KOTA KINABALU: The openness of the current federal government can help Sabah achieve its rights and develop the state.
State Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the current Sabah-federal government relationship has taken a better turn compared to previous eras.
Speaking to reporters after closing the Sabah Day Appreciation Kembara event at Padang Merdeka here last night, the Member of Parliament for Keningau recalled being arrested for two years for alleged involvement in a plot to take the state of Sabah out of the Federation of Malaysia.
"But after my detention, a lot of things have changed. They did not believe what I said before; now, everyone believes what I said.
"Therefore, for the future of Sabah, we have to review and reset our goals. We need to understand what we want, and leaders need to redefine their visions.
"We are fighting for our rights to be restored, and we are almost towards the peak for the financial rights and resources rights. If we succeed, we can deliver the Sabah Maju Jaya aspiration," he said, adding Sabah is lucky to have those rights embedded in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Inter-governmental Committee documents.
Jeffrey, who is also the state Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry minister, spoke to reporters after closing the Sabah Day Appreciation Kembara event at Padang Merdeka here last night.
Meanwhile, he said that this year is the first time the Sabah government officially recognised and celebrated Sabah Day after gaining independence from the British on Aug 31, 1963.
Describing it as long-overdue recognition, Jeffrey hopes the historical records of Sabah Day, National Day, and Malaysia Day will be set straight.
One of his recommendations is for Sabah to have its own version of history books.
"Since Aug 31 is already a national public holiday, there had been a discussion in the state cabinet to have Sept 1 as the public holiday (to commemorate Sabah Day), but there had not been a decision about it."
Present was the event chairman, Datuk Edward Linggu.