Oh em gee, Sabah Bloggers Gathering is barely a week away! What makes this year’s gathering special is that it’s held on Hallow’s Eve, and you bet everyone’s gonna get crazy with their costumes!

Speaking of costumes, the theme is suppose to be anything really freaky looking, but I’m not planning to dress like that. I worry that my kids may have nightmares when they see their mom dressing up as a boogie (wo)man. Therefore, I am dressing up as something else but no less grrrl-looking, and I’m keeping it to myself till that night comes.

The hot and hunky organizers are doing a great job, yet again. Venue will be the the scenic loft of the classy Imperial International Hotel, in the heart of Kota Kinabalu city. Local supremo guitarist Roger Wang, and Alvin from the Malaysian reality show group Infinatez will be joining the list of entertainers for the night’s show. And, will Nuffnang and our wonderful bloggers from Tawau make a surprise appearance?

So for those of you who are in Kota Kinabalu and would like to crash the party, entrance fee is just RM20 per head. If it’s anything like last year, get ready to delight yourself with some scrumptious food and gourmet/premium desserts! It’s so worth it just for the food itself!

I’m off to pick up my kids, and then do some costume shopping, see you all there!

I am far from being a political person, but who in this country can ignore the heat of the upcoming election? I especially am looking forward to the official candidacy list which will be released this weekend.

I’ve heard a lot of gossip surrounding potential Sabah candidates under the National Front (Barisan Nasional in Malaysia), where supposedly most of the current State members are booted out of being nominated, including most of the State cabinet members, and lots of new blood chosen to be in the running. I’m not sure I believe this gossip, even though the sources claimed to be those who are very close to the Sabah Chief Minister. But, if it is true, it’s a big bummer for me! I was counting on at least three of the current State ministers to maintain their posts, as I have my own personal agenda that can better be assisted to if the three of them are still given the chance to compete. Hahah!

Will I be voting on the 8th of March? I’m not sure. I would like to, but since my husband will be one of the officers “volunteered” to oversee one of the voting stations in KK, and no one to look after my kids, I’m not sure it’s possible for me to even go out. Who will I be voting for? None of your business, but I suppose you can guess.

A half-century ago on this day, Malaya was finally free from British rulership. The states of Sabah (North Borneo), Sarawak (West Borneo) and Singapore officially joined six years and 16 days later to form the initial Malaysia, therefore escaping the fate of colonization from the English as Malaya had. A fallout by Singapore ensued two years later, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sabah is unique from the rest of the Malaysian states due to the 20-point agreement made with Malaya prior to joining Malaysia. The most integral points (as far as I’m concerned) are:

Point 2: Language

a. Malay should be the national language of the Federation
b. English should continue to be used for a period of 10 years after Malaysia Day
c. English should be an official language of North Borneo for all purposes, State or Federal, without limitation of time.

Now I know why those in Peninsular Malaysia keep saying that most Sabahans they know can speak English very well. I read in one induction programme book for Federal Civil Employees, that English was allowed to be used in official matters for the first 10 years after Malaya achieved independence. After the racial riot in 1969, on a Federal level every effort should be made to use only the Malay language for official purpose, for the sake of unity.

Point 6: Immigration

Control over immigration into any part of Malaysia from outside should rest with the Central Government but entry into North Borneo should also require the approval of the State Government. The Federal Government should not be able to veto the entry of persons into North Borneo for State Government purposes except on strictly security grounds. North Borneo should have unfettered control over the movements of persons other than those in Federal Government employ from other parts of Malaysia into North Borneo.

This is why our friends from Sarawak and the Peninsular cannot get in and out Sabah without a passport, and that our Peninsular friends must first get a work permit before they can be employed in this state. One of the easier ways non-Sabahans can work in this state is — what most people I see do — to marry a Sabahan

Point 12: Special position of indigenous races

In principle, the indigenous races of North Borneo should enjoy special rights analogous to those enjoyed by Malays in Malaya, but the present Malays’ formula in this regard is not necessarily applicable in North Borneo.

Believe it or not, Malays from Sabah are not considered the same as Malays from the Peninsular. I have to ask my Malay-Sabahan friends to explain that.

In any case, don’t let labels detract us from the fact that a Malaysian is a Malaysian. So here’s wishing every Malaysian a blessed and united Merdeka Day 2007.

Heads up to Enveluv.com for the WordPress Merdeka logo.