PARTI Warisan Sabah’s “no race” policy is nothing new.

Dennis Chang, 55, said he had seen the rise and fall of two multi-racial parties in Sabah’s political history – Berjaya and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). 

Berjaya reigned from 1976 to 1985. 

The party’s success was the result of the cooperation between the Kadazandusun and Sabah Muslim Bumiputeras, following the cooperation of Fuad Stephens and Harris Salleh. 

Harris was former United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) member while Fuad had the support of the Kadazan Dusun community as “huguan siou” (leader).  

PBS governed Sabah from 1984 to 1994. 

The party, led by Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who left Berjaya due to differences with Harris Salleh, was formed with the goal of defending Sabah’s autonomy, state’s rights, economic advancement, human rights and justice. 

Like Berjaya, PBS gained support from the various ethnic groups in Sabah. 

Chang hoped this time it will last longer through Warisan. 

“As Umno made its way into Sabah in the 1990s, Sabahans have become exposed of the trends in Peninsular Malaysia. 

“We were exposed to racial polarisation,” said the businessman when met at Warisan’s Chinese New Year event at Kian Kok Middle School in Kota Kinabalu today. 

Chang cited the bible and the “Allah” issues as just some of the problems in West Malaysia that had impacted the KadazanDusuns in Sabah, who are mostly Christians. 

He was referring to the government’s ban on the word “Allah” in non-Muslims’ publications.

Bajau native, Mohamad Albi Jemain said the so-called “power-sharing” formula in Barisan Nasional was a hoax, as the true power lies with Umno. 

He said other component parties like United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation, PBS, Liberal Democratic Party are just crowding the field, with most of their members busy enriching themselves with “projects”.

“I have a neighbour in Kota Belud who told me how he had done so well after being a contractor, right after signing up as a member to one of the BN parties. 

“His was only a bank clerk, but insisted he was related to a “Datuk” who had given him contracts.

“He told me the Bajau people will die without the help of this so called “Datuk” and, he only wants us to vote for whatever ‘calon’ (candidate) is fielded by this party,” he said.  

Meanwhile, former human rights commissioner Simon Sipaun said the appeal of a multi-racial party could only work in Sabah. 

He said in West Malaysia, most of the political parties were based on racial representation such as MIC for Indians, MCA for Chinese and Umno for Malays

“A new government would be better for the people. If things don’t work out, voters can get them out in the next elections,” said Sipaun, a Kadazan. 

Malaysia Agreement 1963 activist, Zainal Ajamain said Warisan was right to fight for special rights of the state but there was no need to from a committee to discuss it. 

“It is already written in the constitution, why do we need a committee to talk about it? 

“The country’s founding fathers discussed all this and put it in the Inter-governmental Committee report and the Malaysian Agreement in 1963, and subsequently in the federal constitution.”

He also said it was right for Warisan to promise to abolish the goods and services tax within 100 days in power. 

“Under Schedule 10 part 5 item 7 in the Federal Constitution, state sales tax is given. This means the constitution recognise Sabah and Sarawak can have its own sales tax. 

“Why does the federal government want to impose the sales tax 1972 to Sabah and Sarawak, when the constitution says the two states have their own tax?. Does this not mean there is double taxation? Isn’t this is illegal?” he said. – February 24, 2018.