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KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leader criticized the coalition’s secretary general, Annuar Musa, for overstepping his boundaries when he spoke on matters that fall within the competence of the state government.
Sabah BN Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain said Annuar had no reason to comment on the lack of Chinese representation in Sabah’s cabinet, or the possibility of a PAS member being appointed as a nominated assemblyman.
“He (Annuar) is not in a position to talk about it,” Aziz said when contacted. “Chinese or non-Chinese, they are all our brothers. The same is the case with the appointment of PAS (as nominated assemblyman). Why would the gun jump so soon?
“We already have newly appointed leaders like Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and Deputy Chief Minister Bung Moktar Radin, who I think can speak and resonate about the perfect definition of unity in diversity (in Sabah).”
Annuar was previously quoted on a news portal as saying that the new state government of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) could not have a Chinese minister as all of its Chinese candidates were defeated in state elections last week.
He said this meant that there were no Chinese assembly members who could be appointed minister.
Annuar also spoke about the six seats nominated for assemblymen in Sabah, saying that he hoped one seat would go to PAS, BN’s ally in Muafakat Nasional, and further suggested that two more seats should go to Umno.
He added that the remaining seats could go to STAR, PBS and PPBM.
So far there is no Chinese representation in the state cabinet, but Hajiji has yet to name his full list of ministers or who will be nominated as assemblymen.
Aziz issued a statement on Facebook earlier, reminding federal government leaders that making statements “on behalf” of the Sabah government was not assisting in efforts to fully implement what was contained in the 1963 Malaysia Accord, particularly on matters autonomy.
He said such statements are insensitive and do not respect the unity and harmony of the various communities in the state, adding that this was “the last thing” that the people of Sabah wanted from the leaders of the entire South China Sea.
“This means that we don’t want this (such statements) at all,” he said.
Aziz, who is also the head of the Sabah Umno Youth, said that one of the four central axes of the GRS electoral manifesto “Aku Janji” was to unite the Sabahan people.
“Therefore, please stop making any statement that supersedes the position of the new state government.
“We have a spokesperson for the state government who has the authority to speak in a more sensitive tone and understands the culture, desire and unity in this state.
“We also want to protect the unity, camaraderie and harmony that have been forged during all this time,” he said.
