KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) has lashed out at several political parties including allies for allegedly failing to uphold the rights of the state under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

       It also criticised the signing of “suspicious” project deals like the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA).

       The Nature Conservation Agreement is a carbon sales deal signed between the state government and a Singapore-based company recently.

       It involves a 2-mil ha land which is expected to be utilised for this 100-year period agreement.

       PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said unlike other parties, PBRS has always fought in the interests of Sabahans, and will continue to do so.

       “Although we are part of Barisan Nasional, we will not keep silent when there are issues oppressing our rights in Sabah,” he said, adding the state has been treated unfairly by the Federal Government for too long.

       “In fact, we will speak up louder, now that we are back in the government,” he said during the Moyog division annual general meeting (AGM) here Saturday (Dec 11).

       Kurup said in the past, Sabah was forced to see the alteration of its population and demography with the controversial Project IC, which among others, saw the automated citizenship of illegal immigrants.

       On the controversial NCA, Kurup said: “This lease means that the land can be sold to a third party. I believe those involved need to give a proper explanation to the rakyat, especially when it involves all of us.”

       He said Sabah STAR, led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, had been vocal about state rights but went silent and changed their tone on the MA63 after they became part of the government.

       Last May, Kitingan had suggested the drafting of a new agreement to resolve Sabah and Sarawak status in Malaysia, instead of referring solely to MA63, which was established in 1957.

       Earlier in the AGM, Kurup said PBRS, which is part of Barisan and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition that includes Sabah STAR, is set to woo young members by holding programmes relevant for youths.

       “Youth today have different thinking and different takes on politics. We will hold programmes relevant and close to their hearts such as those on employment issues to get to know them better, and to get a sense of what they are thinking today,” he said.