KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has called on Sabahans to reject attempts by certain quarters to make the state yet another political “laboratory” for political experiments especially in the upcoming state election.
“We have self-worth. We want to be a proud Malaysian by being a proud Sabah ... we must be proud as a Sabahan,” said the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) deputy president when launching the Gagasan Rakyat annual general meeting for the Youth and Women’s wings here on Saturday (Nov 9).
Masidi, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary-general, said those who wish to make Sabah their political “test subject” make it seem that Sabah is insignificant and of little value.
“Have we not contributed to the wealth and strength of our country all this while? And after all the sacrifices, are we only qualified to be subjects of political experiments?” Masidi added.
He made the comments in the wake of Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said last week that the next Sabah state election would be a “laboratory” to gauge the cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan.
Ahmad Zahid was reported to have said the election would be an important test of the coalition's understanding of the next general election.
When asked later during a doorstep interview if he had directed his speech towards Ahmad Zahid, Masidi said, “It is directed to anyone who thinks Sabah is a place to experiment politics, not necessarily him.”
“What I am saying is, please respect Sabahans,” he added.
Masidi said Sabah has been made the subject of political experiments in the past that have yet to achieve the desired results, such as the two-year chief minister rotation system.
