SANDAKAN: Sabahans should not be afraid to fight for their rights, as doing so does not mean opposing Malaysia, said Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The Parti Warisan president said demanding better healthcare, education, basic facilities and a fair share of the state's wealth was about fulfilling the promises made when Malaysia was formed in 1963.
"Don't be a coward to fight for your right," he told delegates at Warisan's 10th annual general meeting here on Sunday (Oct 25).
Shafie urged Sabahans not to lose their determination despite the political, financial and other challenges they faced in defending the state's interests.
He stressed that the struggle to uphold Sabah's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) should never be mistaken for a lack of patriotism.
"There is no question that we love Malaysia. This country belongs to us too," he said.
He reminded delegates that Malaysia would not have been formed without Sabah and Sarawak, and that both territories were integral to the federation.
Shafie said the rights envisioned by Sabah's founding leaders extended beyond its land and natural resources, including oil, gas, gold and timber.
He said those rights also encompassed the people's basic needs and aspirations for a better quality of life.
Recalling the period before Malaysia's formation, Shafie said the state's leaders had hoped that joining the federation would bring improvements in education, healthcare, infrastructure and living standards.
He questioned whether Sabahans today were enjoying the progress their forefathers had envisioned more than six decades ago.
Shafie recalled attending school in Semporna in the 1960s, when educational facilities remained inadequate and teachers came from places including Canada and Singapore.
He said the aspirations of the state's founding leaders were not merely about establishing a new nation, but ensuring that future generations would enjoy a better life.
"Our forefathers wanted to protect not only our rights, but also our needs. We wanted a better life than what we had under British rule," he said.
He said those aspirations included improvements in education, healthcare and basic facilities.
"Are we really much better off today?" he asked.
The former chief minister also questioned why Sabah continued to face water and electricity supply problems despite its natural wealth and substantial government allocations.
He pointed to unemployment and the migration of Sabahans elsewhere in search of jobs as further challenges requiring attention.
Shafie said Sabah's wealth should be used to create economic opportunities and industries capable of generating employment for its people.
He also urged Sabahans to take responsibility for determining the state's political future rather than continually depending on political arrangements with other parties.
"Fight for your right, to have your own government," he said.
He maintained that the struggle to safeguard Sabah's interests was ultimately about ensuring that the state's rights were respected and its people enjoyed the benefits promised during Malaysia's formation.
