The Pesky Monkey Warrior

Across the South China Sea from the Malayan peninsula lay a legendary place known as "Land Below The Wind" at the northern tip of Borneo well known for its sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters. A place of tranquility and ethnics melting pot of disparate harmony.

From ocean deep to mountain high one can encapsulates its multifarious natural existence, the beauty of its people and the state of its calmness.

A week ago a pesky character came to town with a glorious ambition of conquering the state and its people with his ethnocentric and intrusive political rhetoric, shit stirring racial sentiments among the KDM (Kadazan Dusun Murut) people to go against the government.

The pesky character who claimed to champion equal rights for all races in the country is also the biggest closet racist.The KDM people are not buying his story or falling into his trap. Story below.

IDS boss dismisses Kit Siang's claim as nonsense

Kota Kinabalu: The statement by DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang insinuating that the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community in Sabah are the biggest losers under the Barisan Nasional (BN) is baseless, said a KDM leader, Datuk Clarence Bongkos Malakun.

"Lim's statement on KDMs being the biggest losers under the BN is undeniably nonsense, baseless and malicious," said Malakun who is also a Deputy President of the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA).

Malakun said it was rather amusing for someone who had only stayed for a short duration in Sabah to claim knowledge of the local scenario, thus qualifying himself to comment on local issues which were far from the truth.

In fact, he said the BN government in Sabah, under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, had been performing excellently, not only on matters concerning physical development but also on matters related to social development, particularly maintaining racial harmony among the various ethnic races here.

"Indeed the level of tolerance among the various races residing in Sabah has been acknowledged at large, as unique, if not the best," he said.

Lim made the comments during a dinner function with DAP KDM leaders and members here last week. He cited the 16-year rotation system of the CM post during the Mahathir era implemented following the BN takeover of the State Government, saying that the KDM community only had the chance to occupy the post for nine months (Tan Sri Bernard Dompok) while Umno (11 years - Datuk Salleh Said and Datuk Seri Osu Sukam) and Chinese (four years - Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat).

However, it was revealed at a farewell dinner to former Permanent Secretary to the Finance Ministry, Datuk Yusof Kassim, that the rotation period was one of excesses which drained the State Treasury and that financial and political stability was only restored when the system was scrapped in 2003. Musa has been the Chief Minister since then.

Malakun, the Chairman of the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah said a high level of tolerance was brought about by the fact that everyone knew discrimination based on racial background was not an issue in Sabah.

"As a matter of fact, the Chief Minister himself is half KDM.

His mother is a Dusun from the Gunsanad family originating from the Sundang and Sodomon family tree.

"As such, this provides more reasons for the Chief Minister to be extra concerned with the well-being of the KDM," he added.

Malakun also said a large number of Kadazandusuns in Sabah were holding important positions in the government sector.

"In fact, two KDMs are holding very important ministerial posts in the Federal Government. KDMs are also well represented in the State Cabinet.

"Out of the 10 ministries under the State Government, four Permanent Secretary posts are held by the KDM community. In terms of scholarship, ever since Usno, the KDMs have been among the major recipients of state scholarships," he said.

Malakun said both the State and Federal governments were continuously taking steps to improve the livelihood of the people in Sabah "no matter who they are".

"The Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), is one good example of the Government's seriousness in trying to eradicate poverty in Sabah.

"Various programmes are being outlined under the SDC by the Government to uplift the living standards of the poor and to bring them out from the poverty cycle."

A good example of poverty eradication programmes under the SDC, he said was the agropolitan project that focused on areas in Tongod, Pitas, Nabawan, Keningau, Kemabong and Beluran.

"These are areas with a KDM majority. Looking at these facts, does Lim really have an issue to raise on the KDM in Sabah?," he asked.

Malakun said it was clear that Lim's statement was made to divert attention from major political woes currently faced by the opposition.

"Indeed there is no doubt that Lim made an ignorant statement without proof and justification," he said.

Daily Express