It’s The Best Time To Demand “Full Autonomy” – Here’s Why

You’ve read about the prospect of Johor declaring Independence and how the remote possibility of UMNO losing the state is actually very real. Now that desperado Najib son of Razak had axed his former deputy Muhyiddin, a Johor warlord, the chances are even higher that UMNO wouldlose its fortress for good.

There’re reasons why the Sultanate of Johor considers its royal house more“supreme” or “glory” than other royal houses. Hence, all the past prime ministers have to “give face” to the Johor royal house. Even if the Sultan of Johor were to declare Independence tomorrow, there’s very little UMNO can do, based on current situation.

Of course, we’re not suggesting the royal house plans to do that. But if their intention was to simply demand for more autonomy, UMNO would most likely “reluctantly” consent to the request. Historically, the Malay Empire of Johor-Riau was much glory and powerful than the Sultanate of Malacca.

True, the Malacca Sultanate formed the starting point to the modern day Peninsula Malaysia. But their empire lasted only from 1400 – 1511, when the capital of Malacca fell to the Portuguese Empire. Thereafter, the Malaccan Sultan Mahmud Shah’s son – Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II – founded and expanded the Johor-Riau-Lingga Empire.

At its height, the ancient Sultanate of Johor controlled modern-day Johor, Riau, and territories stretching from the river Klang to the Linggi and Tanjung Tuan, Muar, Batu Pahat, Singapore, Pulau Tinggi and other islands off the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. And for the next 300-years, it was the centre of Malay civilization.

So, from 1511 – 1824, the history was in the making in a triangular war between “three kingdoms” – the Malays of Johor-Riau, the Portuguese at Malacca and the Acehnese of northern Sumatra – for domination of the Straits of Malacca. The 1824 Treaty of London between the British and the Dutch put an end to the Johor-Riau Empire.

Technically, the Sultanate of Johor can proudly claims that it was their ancestors who fought for the Peninsula Malaysia from 1400 – 1511 (Malacca Empire) to 1511 – 1824 (Johor Empire), without which UMNO and self-proclaimed Bugis warrior Prime Minister Najib Razak would not be able to enjoy the fruits of RM2.62 billion in “donation” (*grin*).

Here’s the fun part. If the Sultanate of Johor can openly insults PM Najib as a drowning man trying to reach and hold on to anything, including “faeces”, not to mention showing an ancient agreement about the possibility of the kingdom exiting Malaysia, can Sabah and Sarawak do the same thing?

After all, Malaysia was formed with the combination of Federation of Malaya(modern day Peninsula Malaysia), North Borneo (modern day Sabah),Sarawak and Singapore. Of course, Singapore later ceased to be a part of Malaysia, becoming an independent state on 9 August 1965, and has become a very prosperous nation.

In actual fact, both Sabah and Sarawak’s bargaining chips are much stronger than Johor, if there was any intention for Independence at all. That’s why Sabah has its own 20-point agreement while Sarawak has its 18-point. Heck, the Cobbold Commission said only “one-third” of Sabah and Sarawak strongly favours the formation of Malaysia without too much terms and conditions.

Lord Cobbold, the chairman of the “Commission of Enquiry” set up to determine whether the Sabahan and Sarawakian supported the creation of Malaysia had stressed that all parties enter the federation as “equal partners”. But looking at how these people were reduced to dirt poor citizens without basic infrastructure – water, electricity, healthcare, roads, education – obviously they weren’t treated accordingly.

No rocket science here. Now is the once in a lifetime opportunity for Sabahans and Sarawakians to push for what they deserve. Or has the wind of secession started blowing already, albeit quietly, in Sabah and Sarawak? Could that be the reasons why both PM Najib and Deputy PM Zahid spend so much time there, besides the state election preparation?

Najib describes “secession” talk in Sabah and Sarawak as “stupid talk”, but what’s so stupid about the whole idea? If Sarawak God – Taib Mahmud – and Chief Minister Adenan Satem could persuade Sarawakian for Independence, UMNO would essentially lose the federal government. UMNO is at its weakest point today.

Like it or not, Taib Mahmud and Adenan Satem are the kingmakers now. Even if they’ve no plan for Independence at all, they can demand for the moon and stars and Najib will still smile and give them a massage. If they’re smart, they should start asking for 100% of the petroleum revenue being siphoned from Sarawak to Peninsula Malaysia, and ended up in the UMNO warlords’ pockets.

But with his pink lip service, Najib would not dare to mention the word “full autonomy” but beat around the bush with merely “more autonomy”, which would mean little to the people. However, the problem is: even if Taib and his minion could get 100% of the state’s petroleum revenue, which is unlikely, would the treasure be distributed fairly to the people?

Sabah is not as risky as Sarawak because the state has been UMNOised. Still, Sabah is relatively better “connected” hence any displeasure and talks about secession from Sabahan cannot be discounted. The real problem would start ifboth Sabahan and Sarawakian join forces and simultaneously ask for secession, or at least for their “Full Autonomy”. -financetwitter