Together reaching for 'The Light on the Hill'
Let us together reach for the light on the hill because Malaysia can only be better when Sabah has a better standard of living, peace, lower crime, respecting human dignity by eradicating corruption and poverty. An Australian statesmen said that when we reach for the light on the hill- we are working for the betterment of mankind and in the Malaysian context, for all not just in Sabah but also throughout Malaysia.
This light on the hill is what most Kadazan Murut and Dusuns aim for when taking long journeys back home to their villages. This is the journey that all Sabahans can take together to restore and return a people-centric government in place of the present crony BN government. A common journey towards a clean and competent government that records budget surpluses and reduces state debts. The same journey to choose a people-centric government that shares its surpluses with the power instead of a crony government that robs the people to reward the cronies. If Penang can wipe out corruption why can't Sabah? Would Sabah BN dare to conduct a full independent audit by an international accounting firm on its state economic development corporation as done by Penang? When Penang can wipe out hard-core poverty in 2009 and poverty in general by 2013, why can't the same be done in Sabah? If PR had won Sabah, poverty in Sabah, which is the highest in Malaysia, would be wiped out in 5 years. If PR had won Putrajaya, PR would have increased the oil royalties by 5% to 20%. Where is the promise by BN Sabah demanding an increase in oil royalties to 20%? Where is the "1 Malaysia 1 Price" promised to ensure the same price of goods in Sabah as in Peninsular Malaysia, as Sabahans pay 10-20% more? We can win Sabah at the next general elections. After all we won 51% of the popular vote in Malaysia yet won only 40% of the Parliamentary seats. Worse in Sabah, Sabah BN won only 55% of the popular vote and yet can win 80% of the state seats. Looking at the bright side, PR Sabah reduced BN's popular vote in Sabah by 6.1% from 61.6% in 2008 general elections to 55% of the popular vote in 2013 general elections. If we can repeat that 6.6% swing in Sabah in the next general elections, BN shall be the opposition party with 48% of the popular vote, with PR as the next Sabah state government. Of course we must have a fair constituency redelineation based on the "one-person, one-vote, one-value" principle. However let me assure Sabahans that out of respect for Sabah and Sarawak joining Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963, there will be no reduction in absolute or percentage terms of Parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak. There will only be "one-person, one-vote, one-value" principle within Sabah to ensure that the disparity between voters is not too big by not exceeding 100%. PR will ensure that Sabah's number and proportion of parliamentary seats will not be affected. But we have to perform as an effective opposition to monitor Sabah BN. Our DAP ADUNs have a good start with Dr Edwin Bosi getting the BN state government to differentiate between Sino-Kadazan, Sino-Dusun and Sino-Murut. Junz Wong Hong Jun got one extra radiotherapy machine for his Likas General Hospital whilst Chan Foong Hin got the state government guarantee to build a RM800 million Tawau Dam. This Kaamatan Festival has brought all Sabahans together regardless of race and religion. It is only BN politicians who do not want Sabahans to unite but to remain divided so that BN can rule unchallenged to permit rampant corruption and abuse of power. Let us not be divided anymore but stand united for a better future for our children. Let us persevere for another 5 years to win power in Putrajaya and Sabah to improve our standard of living and let us live with dignity. Sabah is worth fighting for 5 years more of effort continuously till the next general election. Remember it is not the natural wealth of Sabah that makes Sabah worth fighting for but the wonderful people and diversity of Sabah who are the real wealth of Sabah and Malaysia. Together reach the light on the hill - Mamanau tokou dumimpot - titiu Kanavaan id nuhu.