PAPAR: Sabah leaders should not limit themselves to being 'jaguh kampung' (village champions) by only aiming for the position of chief minister.
Sabah Pejuang Tanah Air Party (Pejuang) chief Nicholas Sylvester said Malaysia was formed with Sabah as a partner in the Constitution and thus its leaders also deserved a chance to be a Prime Minister.
"Sabah needs to be more open minded. Why should we be excited when offered the position of Deputy Prime Minister (DPM)? For me this is an insult. Are we Sabahans only eligible to be DPM?
"Malaysia was formed by the same three partners and we also have the right to be Prime Minister, not just the top two," he said, while speaking in a campaign in Kampung Nagapas, here, yesterday.
In the meantime, Nicholas also said that the people and leaders of this state should be more open-minded and look at Malaysia's political landscape more broadly.
"We need to think about Malaysian politics, not just Sabah politics.
"We have to stand up, compete and fight for our place in Malaysia. Not just be a 'village champion' and just to be the Chief Minister," he said.