Anthony
KOTA KINABALU: Kadazan Dusun Murut Malaysia (KDM Malaysia) is going ahead with its proposal to register as a political party next month.
Its president, Datuk Peter Anthony, said that the recent responses from politicians, both positive and negative, had in fact strengthened their spirit to pursue with their plan to join the political fray under the Barisan Nasional umbrella.
He said the unfavourable comments from several individuals, including Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who publicly declared that they (PBS) will not support KDM Malaysia’s application to join BN, actually spurred them to move forward.
“We do not need his (Pairin) permission to join BN, in fact, it is not up to him. KDM Malaysia is a new force in the political scenario because our struggle will determine the future of the KDM and indigenous people in Sabah. I believe we will have a stronger voice to speak for our people’s needs as a political party,” he said.
He said the KDM have suffered too long, and it was time for the community to rise to greater heights at par with the other communities in Malaysia.
“Take the Pakistanis as an example. In the past, we see them walking from one house to another with a bundle of wares at their back. Today, they are even richer than the locals, and some are with positions or somebody. If they can do it, I do not see why the KDM cannot do the same,” he said.
Anthony does not believe that KDM Malaysia’s participation in the political arena would further divide the support from the community towards BN.
“If you are talking about the divide, it has been done decades ago (referring to the many KDM-based political parties under BN). So, I do not think our presence would add more harm. Maybe we can strengthen the KDM’s voice,” he said.
Anthony expressed disappointment when his sincerity to help the KDM community was questioned by Pairin.
“He too was categorised as ‘mogidu-idu, om gumuli-guli’ (leave, and return) once (for leaving the coalition in 1990 and readmitted 12 years later), so we can also question his sincerity now.
“I think it is also time for him to retire to make way for new and young leaders to take the helm. Malaysia should learn from other countries which are willing to give opportunity to young leaders to take the helm and lead the country, such as Enrico Letta, who was made Italy’s prime minister when he was 47 years old, David Cameron was 44 when he became United Kingdom’s prime minister and Barack Obama was 48 when he became the president of the United States of America.
“We are not short of capable young leaders. I believe they will be able to give new ideas and bring greater development to the state and country as a whole. I am not saying this because I do not respect the senior politicians, but with their vast experience and knowledge, they should be able to think what is best for the people and how to ensure BN stays relevant,” he said.
On Wednesday, Pairin said they would not support KDM Malaysia’s application to be part of the BN when it has registered as a political party, adding that the NGO should stick to its role.
“When you are first registered in the first place as an NGO, your role is as an NGO. But when you overstep yourself, you pretend to be an NGO, but all your activities are actually political, you are not telling the people the right story,” he said.
Pairin however said that no one can stop KDM Malaysia from becoming a political party.