KOTA KINABALU, Jan 1 — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman chided detractors who claim that Sabah has been sidelined by the federal government, insisting that the state has good ties with Putrajaya.

In his message for the new year, Musa said such claims were a typical opposition tactic, and that any dissatisfaction in the state should be voiced through the proper channels.

“I wish to urge Malaysians in Sabah to refrain from being drawn into the agendas of certain quarters who claim that we constantly sidelined by the federal government. This is the most convenient battle cry for the opposition.

“Sabah continues to enjoy a strong relationship with the federal government. It is a fact that the federal government is one that listens to our voices, and has taken the necessary steps to ensure that our needs are met,” he said.

Musa also expressed disappointment that there were attempts to broach the topic of the state’s secession from the country, calling these irresponsible and intolerable.

There has been growing resentment reported from the state, mostly stemming from issues such as illegal immigrants, lack of development, religious conversions and rising costs of living among others.

The discontent has fuelled calls for greater autonomy for the state as well as to consider exiting the federation.

Meanwhile, Musa said that the June 2015 earthquake that killed 18 people on Mount Kinabalu was an incident that devastated the state due to the lives and property loss, but the incident also united the state in grief.

He also took a veiled swipe at PKR Nurul Izzah Anwar over a controversial meeting with Sulu “princess” Jacel Kiram, whose father was behind the 2013 invasion of Lahad Datu.

“We must not allow anyone to belittle the sacrifices made by our forces in defending the sovereignty of of our nation including the loss of lives suffered during the Tanduo invasion, one of darkest chapters in our nation’s history,” he said.