Stop being a devil in disguised

HERBERT Timbon Lagadan, the State Assemblyman for Kadamaian is an interesting character. This is because before joining politics, he was a pastor. According to his bio-data posted on his Website, he possesses a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Theology ( London ).


In Malaysia , there are probably only two pastors who had joined politics over the years. Herbert is one of them. The other one is Pastor Jeffrey Kumin of Sabah DAP, who joined the party just before the last general election and subsequently became its Inanam Division Chief.


Pastor Jeffrey once described his venture into the politics as answering the God’s calling to better serve Him and his children. As for Herbert, while i’m not sure what it was, I’m willing to give him the benefits of doubt that he too still and constantly has God in his mind.


Of late, Herbert who is a Vice President of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) was again in the limelight when he extended his invitation on behalf of his party to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan to rejoin PBS.


To many, and as rightly pointed out by Dr Jeffrey in his response recently, Herbert’s gesture was merely a move aimed to cause a rift and instability in PKR Sabah. Dr Jeffrey even reciprocated Herbert’s invitation by counter inviting the entire PBS including his own brother, Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan to join him in his struggle for the people of Sabah .

I think Herbert and the entire PBS should seriously consider Dr Jeffrey’s counter offer if they sincerely have the people’s interest in their mind still.


As a former Pastor with a degree in Theology, Herbert should have the wisdom to differentiate between what is right and wrong, and what is good and bad for the people. Most importantly, he should be able to see the suffering of the people under the present regime.


Herbert and the entire PBS should conduct a serious soul searching to examine why the gap between the rich and the poor in this country is getting bigger, and why Sabah, despite its abundance of natural resources has gone from being the richest state in the country once, to the poorest state now.

When PBS rejoined Barisan Nasional (BN) in 2002, its leaders especially its deputy president, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili had claimed that once PBS returned to Barisan, the illegal immigrant problem would be solved.

But its former leader cum anti-illegal immigrant activist Dr Chong Eng Leong last year revealed that Dr Maximus had been advising Pairin against PBS sending in memorandums to various groups as it was tantamount to stabbing Barisan in the back again. Disappointed with PBS’s deviation from its original course, Dr Chong later ditched the party and joined PKR Sabah.

Herbert should also realize that one of the perennial issues affecting the people of Sabah is the native land issue which PBS failed to address even when it was in power for nine years. Now, the natives of Sabah are fast becoming the landless people which will eventually reduce them to squatters in their own land.


And as the State Assistant Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, Herbert should also realize that despite the current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s sounds good slogan of “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now.” and paying the same for the income tax, the people of Sabah are still paying a higher price for a majority of goods and services in the state, as compare to their West Malaysian counterparts. In the meantime, the per capita earnings of Sabahans are still the lowest in the country.


The number and magnitude of scandals under the BN rule were simply mind-boggling. They included the Mongolian model, Altantuya’s murder, deaths in custody which include A Kugan and Teoh Beng Hock, the manner the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) persecute the opposition leaders but chose to look the other way when it involves politicians of the ruling coalition like the former MB for Selangor, the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak, the president of MCA and the Chairman of the BN Backbenchers Club in the ongoing PKFZ scandal.


If despite all these glaring instances Herbert still consider BN a noble and credible political party to be associated with, then I would like to dedicate this evergreen oldies of the late Elvis (click and listen to the song) “Devil in Disguise” (see lyrics attached below) to him, plus this quote from the holly Bible – “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.” – Matthew 4:77”.

I would also like to share with you an inspiring video clip sent to me by an avid reader of this blog. If Herbert or any of the PBS, UMNO, UPKO, PBRS, LDP, MCA, GERAKAN, and the other BN component parties leader happen to watch this video clip, I sincerely hope they too would be inspired to make a change.



Devil in Disguise

You look like an angel
Walk like an angel
Talk like an angel
But I got wise
You're the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise

You fooled me with your kisses
You cheated and you schemed
Heaven knows how you lied to me
You're not the way you seemed

You look like an angel
Walk like an angel
Talk like an angel
But I got wise

You're the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise

I thought that I was in heaven
But I was sure surprised
Heaven help me, I didn't see
The devil in your eyes

You look like an angel
Walk like an angel
Talk like an angel

But I got wise
You're the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise