THE slogan “Sabah for Sabahans” is not appropriate and could never the Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s 1Malaysia concept, said Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman 

Musa said, Sabah is for all Malaysians and the culture of assimilation should be continued. 

“We are one big family, and are brothers, even if we are from different races, colours or creeds. Although we have different backgrounds, what is important is that we work together and unite.

“The spirit of brotherhood has been our practice and culture in Sabah all this while. Furthermore, Prime Minister Najib Razak had acknowledged that Sabahans exemplify the best of the 1Malaysia concept,” Musa said today. His speech was read by State Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Jainab Ahmad Ayid at the Tun Razak Foundation in Kuala Lumpur today. 

“I hope that this culture can be continued even if we are jauh di perantauan (far in the outlands). Not ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ but Sabah in Malaysia,” he said at a function attended by Sabahan workers. 

Musa said Sabah’s economy grew rapidly under BN’s administration.

“Alhamdulillah, Sabah under the leadership of the BN government continues to grow in various sector, due to the unity of the people, politics and economy, as well as continuing efforts by the government to develop the state,” Musa said. 

The function was attended by 300 Sabahans from the public and private sectors.

Firefighter Abd Ghani Abd Sani, 28, said the “Sabah for Sabahans” slogan is not suitable as Sabah is part of a federation.

“We need to be open, and can’t be like katak di bawah tempurung (a frog under a coconut shell). We are 1Malaysia, Sabah for Sabahans is not appropriate,” said the Lahad Datu native, who has been working in Kuala Lumpur for five years. 

Mohd Shahrin Labang, 24, a fire fighter from Gombak, said today’s gathering was “meaningful” as they got to mingle with fellow Sabahans. 

“We are pleased to learn of Sabah’s development, as informed to us by today’s ceremony,” said the Ranau native. 

Parti Warisan Sabah president Shafie Apdal has made “Sabah for Sabahans”, deriving from the Parti Bersatu Sabah slogan “Sabah for Sabahans”, since he left Umno.

The slogan, having existed since the 1990s, refers to the rejection of the peninsular parties’ control over the local political scene, as well as the governing of the state via Barisan Nasional Sabah.

The rising rejection has resulted in a stronger call among Sabahans to demand that the federal government restores state rights, especially 40% revenue rights, and the rise of separatist movements such as Sabah, Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM).

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi has described the slogan as seditious and has promised action against those who promote a sense of regionalism. – February 11, 2018.