Tue Sep 24 03:38:00 UTC 2024: ## Sabah Umno Condemns Secession Calls, Urges Authorities to Act

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah – Sabah Umno has condemned calls for the state to secede from Malaysia, calling such rhetoric seditious and a threat to national security. In a statement on Tuesday, Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir expressed concern over groups openly advocating secession, particularly on social media.

Suhaimi warned that allowing these calls to continue could undermine national unity and the spirit of cooperation. He urged authorities to investigate the individuals behind these calls, particularly those inciting secession from outside the state.

“These groups… (intend) to destabilize the country,” he stated, adding that any disputes between the federal government and the state government should be addressed through dialogue.

Suhaimi highlighted the progress made in resolving outstanding issues under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) through the MA63 Implementation Action Council, with eleven key demands resolved and seven fully finalised. “We are confident the remaining MA63 issues will be resolved progressively. If this is why these groups are pushing for Sabah’s exit, (their calls are) irrelevant,” he said.

Suhaimi praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to addressing Sabah and Sarawak’s demands, citing the doubling of interim special grants from RM300 million to RM600 million starting next year as a sign of this dedication.

He suggested that the groups promoting secession may be politically motivated, aiming to secure their own party’s future. Suhaimi claimed certain local parties and leaders have been opposing peninsula parties’ involvement in state and general elections, using slogans like “this is our home, we’ll take care of it” which he believes could incite hatred and anger among the people.

Suhaimi urged Sabahans to reject divisive rhetoric and continue preserving the peace, prosperity, and quality of life they have enjoyed since Malaysia’s formation. He cautioned them to be wary of political agendas that prioritize individual interests over the well-being of the entire state.

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