The online community labelled Ongkili as “pro-Putrajaya” and “traitor” following his reminder to Warisan’s Sepanggar MP Azis Jamman and STAR’s Keningau MP Jeffrey Kitingan not to politicise Sabah and Sarawak development issues to the extent of “jeopardising the nation’s peace”.
Bung said: “What he said was spot on, that we as leaders or ordinary citizens must negotiate with the federal government on how to develop Sabah and Sarawak together.”
Cursing the federal government or using “other methods” would not bring about the desired outcome, he told FMT.
“When Sabahans go overseas, they will not say they are from Sabah but rather from Malaysia. Hence, I agree with what the minister (Ongkili) said,” the Kinabatangan MP told FMT.
Ongkili, who is Kota Marudu MP, issued the reminder to MPs from Sabah and Sarawak on Monday, telling the parliamentarians they should not “fan the fire” unnecessarily, but focus instead on ensuring that the country continued to function effectively.
This came after Azis last week raised the spectre of Sabah seceding from Malaysia over what he called “the discriminatory treatment” given to the two states by Putrajaya.
Kitingan also warned Putrajaya last week against mistreating Sabah and Sarawak, which he labelled as Malaysia’s “golden geese”.
Asked whether he understood the frustration voiced by netizens, Bung said “unsavoury words” would not bring any benefit to Sabah and Sarawak.
“What will benefit both states is for us to continue to hold negotiations on a consistent basis (with the federal government),” he said.
Meanwhile, PBS Youth chief Christopher Mandut also defended his president, saying Ongkili, a six-term MP, had always been vocal in defending the rights of the Bornean states.
“He had raised issues on the lack of development when PBS was in the opposition and continues to be consistent in his stand until today (in government),” he said in a statement yesterday.
“He has been working hard to ensure the rights and demands of Sabah and Sarawak, as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), are fulfilled.
“His vast experience has taught him that a confrontational approach does not necessarily yield results and that a conducive atmosphere is crucial.
“The PBS president believes that we can get our demands met when we work from within the circle.”