SANDAKAN – Labuan’s return to Sabah will be inevitable due to the federal government’s breach of promise to maintain the island as a free port, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee.
He said despite assurances during federalisation in 1984, Labuan has transitioned into a tax collection centre for federal coffers, rendering the return of the island to Sabah an unalterable trajectory in the post-Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad era.
“The core promise made by the federal government was an ironclad guarantee that Labuan would remain a free port and an expanded barter trade and business centre.
“But, instead of Labuan remaining a free port and a barter trade centre, it has become a tax revenue collection island for the federal coffers,” he said in a statement today.
Yong, who is former Sabah chief minister, said the other promises made include assurances for national integration and national security, expedited development, and making Labuan an international conference centre – all of which remained as promises with little to no benefits to the locals.
“Not a day passes without media reports of the serious grouses of Labuan people.
“The return of Labuan to Sabah would mean that Labuan would come within the domestic immigration zone of Sabah.
“This means that travel between Sabah and Labuan, by ferry, by air, and, eventually, by Labuan Bridge, will not face the hassle of immigration control.
“Only travel to and from Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, and international destinations will be subject to immigration control,” he said.
Towards the eventuality of Labuan returning to Sabah, Yong said he has submitted a proposal to the ruling political coalition in Sabah, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, to set up a “Technical Committee on the Return of Labuan to Sabah.”.
Yong said the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa should be informed of the tumultuous era of 1984 to 1985, when patriotic Sabahans were detained without trial under the then Internal Security Act (ISA) for openly protesting against the federalisation of Labuan.
“The then mighty ruling Barisan Nasional also expelled Sabah party United Sabah Organisation for objecting to the matter. The federalisation of Labuan was a key issue that led to the dramatic downfall of the then-dominant BN-Berjaya party.
“As I was working in Labuan in 1984, I can still vividly recall the sight of Federal Reserve Unit anti-riot police putting up a show of force at the Labuan town of Padang on the eve of the handover of Labuan to the federal government.
“The return of Labuan to Sabah is completely consistent with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and can repair the hurt and pain caused to Sabahans,” he said.
Previously, in a Parliamentary written reply to Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran-PH) on March 13, Zaliha said that the federal territory of Labuan would not be handed to any party and such an issue should not have arisen.
She said since Labuan became a federal territory in 1984, the federal government has regularly prepared development plans for Labuan.
“The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan share one spirit and one objective, each with its own roles.
“The togetherness of these territories ensures the success of the federal territories collectively,” she said. – March 21, 2024