A senior Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leader has lambasted State Reform Party (Star) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for suggesting that Malaysia Day be renamed Occupation Day'.

Buang Sayang State Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said Jeffrys statement was not only "childish" but showed blatant disrespect to Sabahan leaders who played an important role in Sabahs independence, via Malaysia's formation.

Who is he (Jeffrey) to make such a wild suggestion? He should read the report of the Commission of Enquiry on North Borneo and Sarawak 1962," he told Bernama here today.

The Commission, headed by Lord Cobbold, was to ascertain the views of the people of North Borneo and Sarawak on the proposed Federation of Malaysia.

Abdul Rahim is also Sabah Barisan Nasional Backbencher chief.