Labuan issue haunting PBS?

PBS thinks both the federal and state governments should set up a joint committee to look into issues such as oil royalty, Labuan rights, Sabah Autonomy and the Malaysia Agreement.

KOTA KINABALU: More than 25 years after Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) rose to power on the back of the controversial surrender of Labuan to the federal government, the issue has returned to haunt the party.

Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan has been forced to lend his voice to calls for the setting up of a special committee to study the impact of returning the Federal Territory of Labuan to Sabah.

“Through the committee, the state government may get the participation of all those involved during the handing over of the Labuan island to the federal government,” he said.

Labuan, which used to be part of Sabah, was ceded to the federal government in 1984, making it the second Federal Territory in the country.

Commenting on the recent call by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) information chief, Chong Pit Fah’s, to PBS to make its stand on the Labuan issue, Pairin, who is PBS president, said the party’s supreme council has not discussed the matter.

“If the government sets up the committee, it would be able to provide us with the pros and cons, as well as a detailed report on the impact of the issue.

“And if the federal government decides to keep Labuan, then it should also provide us with its reasons,” he said.

Pairin, who also is State Infrastructure Development Minister, said that both the federal and state governments should also set up a joint committee to discuss pressing issues such as the people’s call for the increase of oil royalty.

“Recently, many people are talking about oil royalty, Labuan rights, Sabah autonomy and the Malaysia Agreement, but everyone has different views on the topic.

“What we should do is to study the situation, instead of rejecting and ignoring the government’s views immediately.

“Everything can be discussed to find the best solution. The government should give its attention to the issue and make a wise and sensible conclusion that can be accepted by all.

“But it will definitely take a long time to settle,” he said.

Return Labuan

The call for return of Labuan to Sabah was raised by United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko) vice-president Wences Angang recently.

Wences, a former state minister, said the federal government should return Labuan to the Sabah state government for failing to administer the island and maintain its free port status.

He made the call in response to an earlier statement by Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin who said that smuggling activities in Labuan have gone out of control, thereby incurring huge losses to the government.

Raja Nong also proposed scrapping Labuan status as a free port in a bid to combat the rampant smuggling of duty-free goods, particularly cigarettes, beer and liquor to mainland Sabah.

Michael Kaung

SAPP to PBS: What's your stand on the Labuan issue?

KOTA KINABALU, June 17, 2011: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) wants Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to state its stand on the Labuan issue.

The former Sabah territory which is now a Federal Territory after it was ceded to the Federal government in 1984, recently became a hot topic again, following Upko's recent call for this island to be returned back to Sabah.


Upko vice president Datuk Wences Angang on Thursday called on the Federal government to return Labuan to Sabah government for failing to administer the island and maintain its free port status. He urged this in response to Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Datuk Zainal Abidin's statement earlier, saying that smuggling activities in labuan have gone out of control, thereby incurring huge losses to the government.

In a statement issued here today, SAPP Information Chief Chong Pit Fah urged PBS to state its stand on the issue, asserting that this is appropriate and important citing the fact that it was once a crucial part of PBS's agendas and struggles, that even led to its winning of the 1985's election to form the State government.

"Both Upko and Umno have stated their respective on the matter. We believe the people of Sabah are now eager to know what is PBS's stand on this matter, whether it is still the same or has changed," said Chong.

He also urged the Federal Government not to do as they like in Labuan just because it is a Federal Territory.

He stressed that the Federal Government must not use the "out-of-control smuggling activity" as an excuse for changing the status of Labuan, as it was merely an enforcement issue.

Besides this, Chong who is also SAPP Kepayan CLC Chairman also wanted to know the reason behind the much delay in the implementation of the proposed Labuan – Menumbok Bridge project, citing that it was announced during the tenure of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the Prime Minister.

"If Penang can have a second bridge then "why can't we have a bridge to link Labuan and Menumbok?" he asked, adding that its materialization would be significant in boosting the economy of Labuan and Menumbok.

He further noted that it has been one of the SAPP's eight-point declaration that the Federal Territory of labuan shall be returned to sabah and governed as a special region.

Labuan MP tells Upko to stay out

Michael Kaung

An senior member of the Sabah Barisan Nasional coalition wants the federal government to return Labuan to Sabah.

LABUAN: The call to return Labuan to Sabah by a senior Sabah politician is uncalled for, Labuan MP Yussof Mahal said here yesterday.

He said United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) vice- president Wences Anggang should retract his statement.

Yussof, the Barisan Nasional MP, said Anggang’s statement could adversely affect the existing good ties between Sabah and federal government.

“Being the MP here I know better about the situation in my constituency, so there is no need for any suggestion from any leaders outside of Labuan to urge any leaders, be it in the state government or federal government, to return the island to Sabah,” he said yesterday.

Yussof, who is also chairman of Labuan Corporation, said the people of Labuan have enjoyed steady development and progress under the federal government.

“The elevation of Labuan into a federal territory was based on mutual agreement between the Sabah and federal leaders.

“As such, Anggang should not simply jump to conclusions and urge the federal government to return Labuan to Sabah.”

Remove free port status

Upko, he said, already has a representative in the Labuan Corporation’s advisory council who can speak up for the Kadazandusun Murut community (KDM).

Anggang yesterday called on the federal government to return Labuan to the Sabah government for failing to administer the island and maintain its free port status.

He made the statement in response to Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, alleging that smuggling activities in Labuan were out of control and as a result, the government was incurring huge losses.

Anggang said Raja Nong’s proposition that the status of Labuan as a free port be scrapped was tantamount to admitting failure in maintaining the island as a free port, a status it has held since the British colonial rule.

He said the removal of the free port status as suggested by the finance ministry would affect the lives of the people in Labuan as well as neighbouring Menumbok.

The finance ministry advised that the free port status of the island should be reviewed in the light of the rampant smuggling activities centred around it.

Raja Nong, however, said the review would not take place immediately as his ministry wanted the enforcement agencies like Customs and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to strengthen enforcement within  Sabah and Labuan waters.