Yesterday, Penampang-based NGO, Pergerakkan Pemantau Sukarelawan (Pantau Penampang), weighed in on the issue, saying it was the perfect time for Sabah to regain its dignity as an equal partner within the federation of Malaysia after seeing its status downgraded to a mere state in 1972, The Borneo Post reported.
“We can’t do anything anymore about the past but surely we can do so many things now by steering towards the course which our forefathers had wanted it to be,” Pantau Penampang president Jo Nandu was quoted as saying.
Nandu pointed to the power to issue important identification documents, and other controls under the state, as an indication of what more it could do.
“Sabah has total control of the registration of birth/death certificates (Sabah Registration of Birth and Death Ordinance), immigration (who can enter Sabah) and the issuance of work passes as well as the granting of Sabah permanent resident status.
“This clearly shows that Sabah had inherent legal powers to issue her own identification document to all genuine Sabahans,” Nandu told the Sarawak-based daily.
Nandu shared the view of another NGO, Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah (PAN), that earlier stated its support for Darell’s contention relating to the powers (better known as “Kuasa Sabah”) currently in Sabah’s possession.
“These powers came into the picture by virtue of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 so the crux of the matter is that the issuance of Sabah ICs should not be ultra vires or in direct contravention with our Federal Constitution,” Nandu was quoted as saying by Borneo Post.
“After all, being an equal partner, we have all the right to determine how we are going to classify and identify our own genuine Sabahans,” Nandu said in urging all Sabahans, irrespective of his/her political ideologies to support Darell’s call.
“Sabahans have had enough of finger pointing on this matter and we want action, not talk only.
“Pantau Penampang is thankful with the revelation made by Darell on this matter and we want the Sabah government to confirm immediately whether the issuance of the Sabah IC can be done or not,” he said, according to The Borneo Post.