KOTA KINABALU: The formation of the Borneo Bloc will mean little if the voices and interests of Sabahans are not heard and their demands are not translated into concrete action.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said efforts to unite the voices of Sabahans should go beyond political cooperation.
He said unity must be followed by action to realise the state’s rights and interests.
Shafie said decades of voicing Sabah’s demands would bring little change if outstanding issues continued to be delayed without resolution.
These included the state’s claim to a 40 per cent special grant from federal revenue, which is still subject to an appeal.
“There is no point in speaking up for decades if we do not act on what we have called for.
“Today, the announcement on the 40 per cent claim is still under appeal and has been delayed again. So, where do we go from here?
“There is no point in uniting Sabah’s voice if our actions go in different directions,” he said.
He was speaking at a press conference at Warisan headquarters.
On the possibility of political cooperation through the Borneo Bloc, Shafie said Warisan was still examining possible forms of cooperation with certain parties to strengthen Sabah’s interests and its ability to pursue its demands.
He said political unity in Sabah must have a clear direction and should not depend solely on alliances between parties at the national level.
Shafie said elected representatives from national parties operating in Sabah should also be assessed on their ability to champion the state’s interests, rather than simply follow the positions taken by their respective party presidents.
In March, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor dismissed claims that efforts were underway to form a “Borneo Bloc”.
He said Sabah and Sarawak remained part of Malaysia and should work with the federal government to strengthen the nation.
“We are one country, and there must be cooperation between all parties — the states and the federal government — to further strengthen Malaysia,” he said.