Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today criticised Barisan Nasional (BN) over its administration of Sabah, describing the state as having slid backwards economically and politically in the past decade.

According to him, BN's biggest failure is that the Kadazandusun and Murut communities have emerged as the new underclass in Sabah.

"Sabah is in the throes of a political crisis although it is publicly denied by the Umno and BN leadership," he said, adding that these communities are akin to the Indians in Peninsular Malaysia.

He singled out Umno as the cause of Sabah's "malaise and crisis."

"Umno has successfully made is foray into Sabah and established its unquestioned political hegemony in the state in less than a decade, but in the process, it has broken every pledge it made on entry into Sabah," he told the Dewan Rakyat.

"Umno promised to reduce the poverty levels in Sabah from 33 percent in 1994 to zero in 2000. It promised that all Sabahans would be literate by 2000! Eradicate corruption in Sabah by 2000! Provide each Sabahan with a house by 2000! And to eradicate the problem of illegal immigrants by 2000!

"Now there are more illegal immigrants than natural citizens! Does the government deny this? Do the MPs deny this? Please stand if you object!" he said.

Lim said the 'hollowness' of Sabah Baru was reflected in the death of Donny John Dion - an 11-year-old Dusun boy who reportedly committed suicide after being distraught over his family's poverty.

"We are about to celebrate 50 years of independence, but a Dusun boy has to hang himself because of poverty. We (DAP) are also ashamed. The nation is ashamed.

"Donny's suicide is the most potent illustration of the violation of all Umno's promises of Sabah Baru. It seems that Sabah Baru is worse than Sabah Lama. What exists now in Sabah is a new underclass ... the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut because there are complete marginalisation by Umno's policies," he added.

Corruption allegations

Lim also raised the issue of the 25 corruption allegations against Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

"There was no response from the prime minister though I have written a letter to the PM's department to come to Parliament to answer the allegations. Now if the letter of the opposition leader is not read, do you expect the public's letters to be read," he said.

"Sabah and Sarawak are the problem states. Is the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) willing to investigate the chief ministers of the two states. If the two are guaranteed immunity, then what is the point of declaring a war on corruption?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Lim also touched on the resignation of Sabah deputy chief minister Chong Kah Kiat last week and said there has been much 'sandiwara' (play acting) about the whole issue.

Chong did not reveal the reason for his resignation but it was said to be related to his differences with Musa.

"There is a lot of play-acting over the resignation. The prime minister endorsed the resignation by saying that the 'election was not really a loss as it would not weaken the BN state government'."

"In other words, although Chong was deputy chief minister and one of the key digits in the conspiracy and strategy to establish Umno's hegemony in Sabah in the early 90s, he is now completely irrelevant and expendable ... It is clear that Chong's resignation is only the tip of the iceberg of what is rotten about Sabah," said Lim.