KOTA KINABALU: The latest statement from Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad only riles up the Sabahans after being deprived from development when he ruled as Prime Minister for 22 years.
Sino Kadazandusun Murut Association president Datuk Johnny Goh said the latest insult claiming Sabah folks to be lazy with low mentality by choosing the easy way to gain something, only succeeded in creating hatred towards him.
“Sabah people did not have good roads as he (Mahathir) did not build any but yet they are willing to walk miles and miles to send their agriculture produce to the markets to gain a living.
“This is what he called lazy?
“And when he was prime minister, even when the schools were in deteriorating conditions, the Sabah people still send their children to study,” he said when contacted by NSTP.
Goh reminded how the 1985 Sabah riots after Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) won the state elections was Mahathir’s doing for not wanting to recognise Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan as the Sabah Chief Minister at the time.
“He created all the unease then … can you imagine how people could not work or live in peace? As a PM then, he should appreciate the people of Sabah as Sabah had become part of Malaysia,” stressed Goh.
Meanwhile, Sabah Bangsa Sungai Association president Datuk Juhari Janan said Mahathir was known to rule with an iron fist and at the same time never acknowledged the ethnicities in Sabah during his administration.
He never gave Sabah folks a chance to develop the state, only giving one ministerial portfolio for Sabah and Sarawak at that time.
Gerakan Akar Umbi Umno Malaysia (Gaum) chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar said Mahathir’s comments were unacceptable to the people of this state as it had undermined them and Sarawakians.
The statement that Sabah and Sarawak only knew logging as a source of income was also unfair as the states were not able to develop their resources during his time and depended on forest products then.
Zulkarnain who filed a police report at the district police station here today, wanted strong actions taken towards Mahathir for incitement and said Gaum also wants him to apologise to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
“It was only during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak administrations that both States were given incentives and investment opportunities, as well as a direction in developing the states.
“All of the people in Sabah and Sarawak are angry with him (Mahathir), and we will send a letter to him to seek his apology for the people of Sabah and Sarawak,” said Zulkarnain.