Let’s have a prime minister from Borneo

JUNE 18 — As a child growing up, I have always felt some regret about that glass ceiling hovering over Sarawakians and Sabahans. To my younger self then, it was inconceivable then that there could ever be a prime minister from East Malaysia.

But the possibilities are endless in Malaysia if you play your cards right. Borneo nationalists know that very well. They said part of the trick is knowing how far can you push the envelope.

At a forum last weekend, Marudu-born politician Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan suggested that Malaysia change its administration system to better reflect the equal status of Sarawak and Sabah in the Malaysian federation.

Among his suggestions: a three-deputy system for the prime minister, with West Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah rotating their premiership between them; and an autonomous system whereby West Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah would have their own prime ministers, although all would contribute economically and submit to the federal government.

Can there ever be a prime minister from Sarawak? Can that happen without Umno establishing itself in Sarawak? Not until fundamental issues around Malaysia as a federation are addressed. 

And even then it would take a great change in how we do things around here.

Even for the Malaysian agreement’s review, Sarawak and Sabah have been waiting more than four decades. Even after both territories saw their statuses change from nations to 12^th and 13^th states in 1976, in what must be against the original spirit of the 1963 agreement, we are still waiting.

But since then Barisan Nasional — and Umno — has found its grip on power loosening. Things are coming to a head such that the play for Malay votes is threatening harmony.

So it is an interesting set of suggestions coming at a time when the voice of Sarawak — the only state without Umno — is apparently louder than what it used to be. Being a so-called kingmaker state does wonders in getting people to listen to you. 

Case in point: the state recently asked for more oil royalties — both sides of the divide remarkably unanimous about it in the state assembly — and the prime minister promised to give the request due consideration in a recent speech. This opened the way for other states to ask for the same, although in other states’ case I won’t hold my breath for that to happen.

That said I concede that giving consideration is far from actually agreeing. “We’ll think about it” is such a tired answer. But I digress. 

Sentiments have moved against Putrajaya and Umno for some time, what with some very public shenanigans and controversies in West Malaysia that have dominated the news headlines. Nationalism is now one card up East Malaysian politicians’ sleeves and they know it.

The promise of autonomy, self-governance and real power sharing — these sound wonderfully nationalistic. These are as Sarawak-for-Sarawakians and Sabah-for-Sabahans as they come.

And make no mistake, if there is any faint hope for these things to come to pass, at the moment Sarawak holds the cards. But don’t hold your breath: the United States took 233 years after independence to have its first African-American president.

If these things ever come to pass, we’d probably be long dead and buried. The real question is if we’re willing to plant the seeds that would only bear fruit in the days of generations to come.

* The author has been told numerous times of his unusual optimism and faith.

** This is the personal opinion of the columnist.