Referring to the statement made by the Vice President of UMNO Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in regards to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s sole discretion in holding a snap poll in Sabah, this shows that the Umno leadership has no respect to Sabahan administration led by its Chief Minister cum Chief of UMNO in Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman.
This also shows a disarray and conflicted interests between Umno and its state leadership, when commenting on a much earlier incident happened on the Sabah BN leaders’ wish to call for an election but was believed to have been rejected by the party’s central leadership.
The Umno central leadership should not interfere in any state’s decision especially when it comes Sabah’s autonomy. It is unjust for the Prime Minister to have the final say in regards to state affairs. It also involves the violation of federalism and state constitutional rights.
In contrast, in order to honour Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners of the Federation, DAP is committed to grant full autonomy to its Sabah and Sarawak DAP state leadership. During the DAP Sabah Annual Convention which was being held back then on the 20th November 2016, DAP’s Secretary-General cum Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, reassured that the decision making powers over Sabahan affairs should be up to its Sabah DAP Chairman, YB Stephen Wong.
DAP Sabah as the opposition party which had been consistently fought BN over past half century, is willing to work with other opposition party regardless of national or local parties to save Sabah and Malaysia from kleptocracy.
I would like to reiterate our stance that it is not zero-sum game for national or local party. As long as the party is sincere to serve the people and to carry progressive agenda to bring real change for the people, that is the party that Sabahan aspires for.