PENAMPANG: The implementation of rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) will be one of the ways to prove that Indonesia's former president Soekarno was wrong on neo-colonialism.
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said the late Indonesian leader once said the idea of Malaysia's formation involved the shifting of colonialism from London to Kuala Lumpur.
He said it was a fact that the east Malaysians' rights had been stripped through amendments to the Federal Constitution in the past 58 years which included the shifting of state jurisdiction to Putrajaya.
Madius said such moves took place as the leaders from Sabah and Sarawak were not alert in executing their duties and responsibilities in the cabinet and parliament.
"For Upko, decentralisation also has to be done. There is too much wastage, leakages and abuses of power in an oversized Federal government with over 30 ministries that can be scaled down.
"The onus is on the government to prove that Soekarno is wrong. It will be up to the government.
"When members of parliament (MP) mentioned MA63 and other demands... Sepanggar MP (Datuk Azis Jamman) was called up by the Bukit Aman (Police).
"Where is the freedom for us as the elected representatives. If we are being threatened for our people's voices ?," he questioned.
He said this in his speech at UPKO's convention which took place at Dewan Kebudayaan Penampang here.
Madius, who is also Tuaran MP, said the main prerequisite to proving there was no colonialism was to acknowledge and guarantee Sabahans' rights in the MA63 which includes placing the content of the document in the school syllabus.
During the press conference later, he said UPKO would be proposing a motion to address citizenship issues involving illegal immigrants.
"It is important to have management (system) for immigrants in Sabah which can be categorised into four- illegal immigrants, Philippines war refugees with IMM13, Kad Banci or Burung-Burung documents, stateless, and those who obtained identity cards (IC) illegally.
"To resolve this issue, it has to be based on those categories. As for those with dubious IC, based on the results of the Royal Commission Inquiry (on Sabah illegal immigrants), their documents have to be revoked.
"(Upko Honorary president) Tan Sri Bernard Dompok had also suggested removing them from the electorate list," he said, adding that the abnormal population growth in Sabah was the proof of immigrants' issue.
Earlier, at the convention, UPKO also launched the party's mobile app application for its members.
Present at the convention were Bernard, Upko supreme council members, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Christina Liew and Sabah DAP chief Datuk Frankie Poon.