By CC Pung, Justice of Prace
Tokoh Wartawan Sabah and FT Labuan
If cattle had their say, they’d either choose to do away with the tail, or grow multiple tails.
But it’s a choice that cut both ways. Not growing tails means goodbye to oxtail lovers everywhere.
Without oxtail, Hyatt Kinabalu in my city will be hard pressed to come out with a dish to replace its ‘oxtail asam pedas’ which has been its iconic menu item for decades.and, like everything else, cost of oxtail has increased many fold over the years.
Growing more tails will increase the demand for cattle and that’s a nightmare to vegans everywhere, and raising more cattle is not good because someone alleged that cattle farming is a major contributer to CO2 in our atmosphere.
More cattle or less cattle?
This Hobson’s Choice reminds me of Sabah’s next general elections where one major argument is whether voters will reject parties branched from Malaya, or rally behind local parties.
I’m in some WhatsApp chat groups where the issue has been attracting very divergent views.
To me, it’s a case of ‘head you lose, tail I win’.
Sixty years of partnership with Malaya in the Federation of Malaysia has taught Sabahans that the central government based in Malaya and dominated by Malayan parties, pay only lip service to fairness and equality.
But, the fact is that Sabahan leaders had always been part of the central decision-making process.
The disparity in developing and the perpetual unfair treatment of Sabah can’t be squarely the failings of Malayan politicians, can it?
The present central govt under a certain Anwar (he has no love for Sabah other than the votes he could or couldn’t gain) has enough cabinet representation from Sabah to facilitate the resolution of numerous long standing issues such as the Malaysia Agrreement 1963.
So far, they most seemed incoherent and suspiciously incompetent.
Herein lies what to me Malaya-induced incompetence which over the years afflicted every Sabahan politician who were appointed to a variety of important portfilios in Malaya.
For some odd reason, all of them inevitably became lethargic, timid and started to display the hostage syndrome, and sounding sympathetic to Malayans’ cause.
So, can we continue to trust Malayan parties?
Can Sabah parties be trusted not to become cowards when they get into the federal govt?
The sentiments over this issue have exposed the thinly veiled desire of Sabah Sarawak to opt out of Malaysia.
That means secede, and secession is illegal.
Before the subject was desensitised in recent years, many Sabah politicians have been punished through the courts and prison.
There you are, damn if you don’t, and damn if you do.
With oxtail?
The choice is much easier.
The only consequence is on your wallet.
Thus, the lo.
Editor: The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the talantang.com
