KOTA KINABALU, April 13 — The secessionist movement Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) was merely designed to create drama and benefit the personal agendas of a few failed politicians, a Sabah assemblyman told the state legislative assembly today.
Pantai Manis state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail claimed that SSKM was backed by politicians who were unable to get enough support in the last two elections and are now playing on the sentiments of a select few to gain recognition.
“Let’s not forget that some of these SSKM players were in power and held positions of authority some time ago. Why were they silent on the issues of Sabah’s rights then and moreover, secession?
“The ‘actors’ of SSKM also recruited and backed Doris Jones, a Sabahan woman based in United Kingdom, who launched the SSKM social media movement. Doris Jones is not balanced in her view which does not represent Sabahans,” he told the state assembly.
Abdul Rahim, when debating the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s policy speech, said that SSKM was modelling itself after other separatists such as those involved in the Scotland referendum, which had failed to separate themselves from the United Kingdom.
“It is obvious that the actors of ‘SSKM’ have no sincere intentions other than to break up the unit and harmony of our society and fan anti Semenanjung sentiments, despite knowing their actions were unrealistic and tantamount to treason,” he said.
The movement, largely based on Facebook, harps on several grievances faced by Sabahans, most notably land grabs, the influx of illegal immigrants, comparative lack of infrastructure and development, distortion of historical facts regarding Malaysia’s formation as well as oil royalty rights.
The movement on Facebook has garnered over 33,000 “Likes” while more supporters “follow” their leader Jones’s profile for motivation and support.
State police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said that the police have issued a warrant of arrest for Jones under the Sedition Act since February.
