Sabah BN will win seats ‘by default’

By Luke Rintod  HERE

| October 11, 2012

Some analysts in Sabah believe that as many as 20 seats, including five or six parliamentary seats, could go to BN as a result of a split in opposition votes.

 

ANALYSIS

 

 

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to see multi-cornered fights in most areas in the coming general election. This means that the ruling Barisan Nasional may have the edge.

 

At this stage, observers can conclude that the opposition parties in Sabah are giving Umno-led BN a “free advantage” to retain a majority of the Sabah seats.

 

At stake in Sabah are 26 parliamentary seats, including one in Labuan, and 60 state seats.

Sabah chairman of State Reform Party (STAR), Jeffrey Kitingan, said recently that his party is all but ready to announce the seats – parliamentary and state – it will contest.

 

“We can announce the seats shortly,” he said confidently to reporters when asked how many seats STAR will contest in Sabah.

 

Jeffrey in the past had talked about contesting in more than half of the 60 state seats. He had even at one stage indicated that STAR may go the whole hog and contest in all 26 parliamentary and 60 state seats.

 

But reality seems to have set in.

 

Asked if STAR had reconciled overlapping claims on seats with other opposition parties – Pakatan Rakyat and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) – Jeffrey refused to divulge further.

“Wait for another day,” he said.

 

He also reiterated that STAR had received the green light from the Election Commission (EC) to contest in Sabah in the coming polls.

 

STAR list ready

 

The Sarawak-based STAR’s eligibility to stand in Sabah under its symbol has attracted much speculation even though the party had done so in Kota Marudu years back.

 

STAR’s Sabah chapter secretary, Guandee Kohoi, said that EC Sabah director, Idrus Ismail, in a meeting with Jeffrey, himself and Edward Linggu (STAR information chief) had given them assurance that STAR indeed could field candidates in Sabah.

 

“STAR is already on the latest list of political parties EC gave us. Even the name of STAR has been amended and does not state the word Sarawak anymore but just State Reform Party.

 

“The latest list also contains the re-named party, Sarawak Worker’s Party’ [SWP], which was previously Sabah-based Sabah People’s Front [SPF],” Kohoi said.

 

Meanwhile, the number of STAR’s potential candidates has been growing steadily and in many places, they are already clear frontrunners.

 

At least half a dozen graduate teachers aligned to STAR have so far resigned from their posts, and a few other civil servants are said to be set to retire early to prepare to be the candidates.

 

STAR Youth leader, Hasmin Azroy Abdulah, is among the teachers who have resigned. He could be STAR’s candidate for Tenom parliamentary seat or one of the state seats in the constituency.

 

Another teacher who has also resigned is Maklin Masiau. He is poised to be STAR’s candidate for poverty-stricken Pitas state seat in the north. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is also eyeing Pitas.

 

Pinus Gondili is another teacher who quit his job and is slated to contest under STAR in Labuk. He is certain to fight incumbent Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice-president, Michael Asang, after PBS recently confirmed Asang would be retained.

 

PKR is also eyeing Labuk, making it one of those many seats in Sabah that are likely to see four-cornered fights between BN and the opposition trio – STAR, Pakatan and SAPP.

 

Cunning SAPP

 

Meanwhile, both STAR and SAPP leaders are saying publicly, at least, that they would not want to face each other where their respective “big guns” are contesting.

 

That would mean SAPP would not put up a candidate against Jeffrey and his right-hand men. But there is a big question mark as Inanam, the seat of Jeffrey’s senior deputy Daniel John Jambun, is being eyed by SAPP through its deputy president Eric Majimbun who is Sepanggar MP.

 

The cunning SAPP has previously suggested that all should respect the status quo of the incumbents.

 

Soon after getting others to “respect” it, SAPP moved to claim Inanam.

 

“The question is, if SAPP is adamant on taking both Inanam and Sepanggar, then where will Jambun contest?” asked a STAR supporter in Inanam recently.

 

Jambun had in 2008 contested under PKR ticket and garnered a respectable 4,293 votes against DAP’s 2,864. The eventual winner was BN-PBS Johnny Goh who obtained 5,979 votes.

 

Karambunai is another state seat under Sepanggar, but it is possible that SAPP president Yong Teck Lee would want to stand there this time as he has scores of Malay supporters in this constituency.

 

Other possible places for Yong are his former seat Likas near here or Lahad Datu, his hometown in the east coast.

 

Yong stood in the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election in November 2010 and lost badly, finishing last with only 2,031 votes behind PKR-imported candidate Ansari Abdullah’s 3,414 and eventual winner BN-PBS Linda Tsen who received 9,773.

 

SAPP could be fielding its secretary-general Richard Yong in the Tanjung Aru mixed state seat where another of Jeffrey’s deputy, Ahmad Sah Sahari, is keen.

 

It is understood that STAR is prepared to let SAPP take Tanjung Aru. But Pakatan – maybe through DAP – is also eyeing the seat.

 

Split opposition votes

 

The murky waters of Sabah’s politics is set to get murkier as opposition leaders fail to appreciate the importance of reconciling their differences and overlapping claims of strength.

 

Some analysts have said that this time as many as 20 seats, including five or six parliamentary seats, could go to BN by default as a result of a split in opposition votes.

 

One analyst cited Kadamaian where if the three opposition parties – STAR, Pakatan and SAPP – put up their respective candidates, they could garner combined votes of around 6,000, leaving a BN candidate way behind with only about 3,500 votes. But BN would still win because of the “strategic” split in the opposition camps.

 

He said a similar situation was also likely in adjacent Tempasuk state seat. The combined votes of the opposition could outnumber BN’s but because of the split, BN will retain Tempasuk.

 

For the record, in the last general election in 2008, there was a three-cornered fight for Tempasuk. BN won the seat after its candidate polled 6,541 votes. PKR garnered 4,109 and an independent took only 191 votes.

 

As for Kadamaian in 2008, BN-PBS Herbert Timbon Lagadan chalked up 5,382 votes, followed by PKR Lukia Indan’s 2,909 and independent Peter Marajin’s 1,729.

 

“There is no question that this time [2012], votes for the opposition would increase in almost all areas and everyone can feel it and even BN leaders acknowledge this.

 

“But the one factor that can ensure BN will win in Sabah is the split opposition votes,” said an observer who is also an NGO leader.

 

Meanwhile, there is no signal that SAPP is re-engaging with Pakatan after being slighted by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s conniving manoeuvres.

 

Opposition follies

 

There is also no sign at all that STAR and SAPP are close to working together. They have not started talking on a common manifesto.

 

In fact, both appeared to be trying to outdo each other with their respective draft manifesto.

While STAR commands a respectable following especially in Kadazandusun areas, SAPP cannot be ruled out of the scene.

 

Standing in the way, SAPP, no matter how small its sway over voters is, could make STAR stumble and suffer, either by default or design.

 

Pakatan, through its PKR component, is also a group to be reckoned with in many of the Kadazandusun areas as it has its own flock now, some of whom are led by Jeffrey’s former colleagues in PKR who are tired of following his political journey.

 

The sooner Jeffrey, Anwar and Yong realise their follies, the better it will be for Sabah.

 

If Jeffrey scales down on STAR seats, he could end up facing a possible revolt within the party as those who have resigned, or spent time and money believing they would be candidates would surely be frustrated and feel like they have been taken for a ride.

 

Currently “lost” SAPP needs a win-win engagement now but, except for STAR, no party seems to want to take it seriously as a partner, not even Chinese-based DAP.

 

PKR, to say the least, is already in a “tea-cup turmoil” with incumbent leaders feeling the pressure from new “blue-eyed boys” of Anwar – Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing, who are neither PKR members nor its enemies, but already “dictating” terms on political matters.

 

My Say:

 

I met several incumbent BN YBs....all says a straight fight will be an uphill task for them to retain their respective seats but they are happy (and hoping) that they will face candidates from SAPP, STAR and Pakatan and sure to be laughing all their way to the State Legislative Assembly and Parliament.

A review timely

Yong: A Review of State-Federal Relations is timely

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee says that the debate whether Sabah is one of three equal partners or one of thirteen states in Malaysia shows that a review of the State and Federal relationship is relevant and timely.

"SAPP will push for a review in line with SAPP's 8-Points struggle for autonomy and the return of Labuan .

"The review may propose that the High Court in Borneo be uplifted in authority and status. The granting of federal citizenship in Sabah must require State consent. Schedule 9 (Legislative Lists) of the Federal Constitution can be amended to give more jurisdiction to Sabah and Sarawak .

"Examples, foreign labour, labour laws, shipping, road transport, trade and industry and energy can be transferred to the State List. Schedule 10 Part V (Additional Sources of Revenues Assigned to Borneo States) can be expanded to include oil and gas, customs duties and revenues originating from Sabah and Sarawak .

"This review can include Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan's idea of a two-tier federation. A two-tier system will allow the Conference of Rulers to continue as it is but that the Chief Ministers and Menteri Besar Conference can be reviewed to enhance the participation of Sabah and Sarawak .

"Is Sabah one of three equal partners in Malaysia consisting of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya?

"Malaysia was formed pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement of 9 July 1963 signed in London . The signatories were led by the then Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom , Malaya, Singapore and the leaders of North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak. ( Singapore left Malaysia on 9 August 1965.)

"The agreement was signed not with the other 11 existing states in the Federation of Malaya but with Malaya as an entity. (Indeed, Kelantan had objected to the inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore in Malaysia and had disputed the Malayan federal government's power to admit new states. But Kelantan lost its legal challenge on 14 September 1963).

"Irrespective of the wordings of the Malaysia Agreement and the Malaysia Proclamation 1963, Sabahans' understanding and consciousness is that Sabah had formed Malaysia with three other partners - Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore .

"Hence, many Sabahans consider Sabah as 'one of three' and not 'one of thirteen' partners in Malaysia . This the collective memory of the Sabah people does not go away. People still talk about it. From 1963 to 1971, Sabah and Sarawak were known as East Malaysia .

"Malaya became known as West Malaysia .

"But after the break up of West and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971, the term West and East Malaysia was replaced with "Peninsula Malaysia" and 'Sabah and Sarawak' for obvious reasons.

"But the federal government will not concede that Sabah is an equal partner to Malaya because our national leaders cannot imagine Sabah as an equal to Malaya (now Peninsula Malaysia ).

"Although Malaysia Day on September 16 is a historical fact, it still took the BN federal government 47 years to declare September 16 as a national holiday.

"However, we will still be celebrating Hari Kebangsaan Malaysia 53 Years (from 1957) instead of Malaysia National Day 47 Years (from 1963).

"Thus, when Prof. Dr. Ranjit Singh, an academic, said that Malaysia is not an equal partnership of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak , his view reflects that of the national mainstream.

"To them, we are the late comers to Malaysia . We need their help because we are more backward. In the 1970s, our new friends in KL asked whether we live on tree tops and if we have television.

"To say they are equal to Sabah would be too much for them to bear.

"They say we need their civil servants because we have no qualified Sabahans. We win hardly any national sports tournaments. Economically, we are weak. Politically, we are "the wild East".

"Our tourism icon is the orang utan, our main national news are pirates. None of the national newspapers saw the need to report the Sabah debate on the loss of oil blocks L and M or the piping of natural gas to Bintulu and the controversy over the coal power plant. Sabah's losses are of little concern to them.

"After the March 2008 political tsunami in Peninsula Malaysia , our friends over there commented that "Sabah and Sarawak are behind time" and slow in following the national trend.

"We cannot blame them for thinking so because that is their perspective of Sabah and Sarawak . But, we could remind them that when Sabah took the lead to change the BN federal government in 1990, all the Peninsula states, except Kelantan, re-elected BN.

"Some leaders in KL have a mindset that Malaysia is the father and Sabah is the child.

"At times, this mindset is reflected in the civil service, private companies and associations. Their KL head offices make all the important decisions and treat their offices in Sabah like any other branch in the Peninsula .

"This 'superior mindset' partly is due to our Sabahans' docile approach. For instance, some local politicians are so lacking in self-confidence that they ask their federal leaders to come regularly to Sabah to help them. UMNO Sabah receives "Bapa Angkat" in all the constituencies.

"When some UMNO MPs were speculated to defect in 2008, their party HQ sent spies after them. MCA claims that their four federal ministers can do wonders for Sabah 's Chinese.

"UPKO has made itself a mirror image of peninsula racial parties like MIC, MCA and UMNO. At the same time, leaders of PBS, PBRS and LDP have all become subservient to KL in the hope of some favours, the most glaring example being LDP lobbying for a federal minister post. To be 'equal' is not in their minds.

"The internal bickering within Sabah UMNO and BN has also entrenched the 'divide and rule' tactic of KL. These BN leaders have not learned from history. As a result, the people in Sabah lose out.

SAPP: Take action against anti-Malaysia elements

This is what Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee told a Press conference today at his party's headquarters as it appear in the party's official website HERE.

Datuk Yong Teck Lee said that the recent release without charge of the persons who burned the Sabah flags sends a very dangerous message to many people in Sabah, particularly in the East Coast, that such treasonable actions are tolerated.
Yong further added that the "The New Sulu Times" that propagated anti-Malaysia propaganda was merely banned but no action was taken against the people behind it.
"A new publication by the same people can surface any time under another title. Whereas 'Malaysia Today' and other anti-BN websites have been shut down by the authorities, other websites claiming that Sabah is under the 'illegal occupation of Malaysia' are still active.

"In other states, people have been charged for insulting the Sultan and for protesting against toll hikes. Journalists and bloggers have been detained under the Internal Security Act. But in Sabah, people who committed treason by staking a claim on Sabah on behalf of a foreign power and burning state flags walk free.

By claiming Sabah as belonging to another country, these people have ridiculed the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, the Sabah Tuan Yang DiPertua Negeri, our national Parliament, State Legislative Assembly and our Federal and State constitutions to which we have been sworn to uphold.
"These people had caused public anxiety. The entire anti-riot police of Lahad Datu district had to be deployed and top police officers were dispatched from their State headquarters on the same day. The efficiency of our police force is to be commended.

Now, it is the duty of the State and Federal governments to do their part to safeguard the sovereignty and peaceful progress of our nation Malaysia."The Sabah Chief Minister in his winding up speech Wednesday had said of the "Sabah Claim"...

(a) Is an internal matter of the Philippines

(b) The case has never been formally claimed in bilateral (Malaysia-Philippines) forum

(c) Malaysia has never entertained this "non-issue" and the United Nations recognizes that Sabah is part of Malaysia

(d) The Lahad Datu flag burning incident April 4 is an ordinary crime

(e) The Philippines government has not given any commitment to establish a consulate in Sabah.

"With due respect, what the Chief Minister has missed out are

(a) The "Sabah Claim" has now surfaced in Sabah by way of flag burning, "birth certificates" being issued by a foreign authority for children born in Sabah, printed publications and websites openly claiming that Sabah is not part of Malaysia. The "Sabah Claim" mindset among Filipinos is a psychological impediment to the long term solution to the illegal immigrants issue. It is already an open policy of the Philippines to refuse deportees from Sabah. In other words, the "Sabah Claim" is an internal matter of the Philippines that has vast implications on Malaysia's security."

b) The "Sabah Claim" was raised in the "Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan case" before the International Court of Justice in 2001 when the Philippines asserted, unsuccessfully, "that its claim of sovereignty over North Borneo might be affected by the Court's reasoning or interpretations of treaties in issue between Indonesia and Malaysia.(ICJ 23 Oct. 2001) "

This back door attempt to bring their claim on Sabah to the World Court shows that the Philippines is actively reviving this issue."Of course, the Philippines's revival of the "Sabah Claim' does not change the international law that Malaysia has sovereignty over Sabah and that the UN recognizes Sabah as part of Malaysia.

Indeed, Malaysia, with Sabah as a state, is a creation of the UN in 1963. By necessary consequence and effective control under international law, the Philippines and the Sultan of Sulu have long ago lost sovereignty over any part of Sabah. So, international law is not the issue.

"The real issue is security. And the potential for conflict at a future date caused partly by false hopes among some people in the Philippines, and some illegal immigrants in Sabah, that somehow they, not Malaysia, are the rightful heirs of Sabah."The Philippines is the only neighbouring country not to have a consulate in Sabah. Brunei, Indonesia and Japan have full consulates here.

Even France, Denmark, Slovakia, Britain, Finland, Switzerland, Panama, Bangladesh and Australia have honorary consuls in Sabah. As a comparison, the Philippines has consulates in Indonesian Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Surabaya other than the embassy in Jakarta.

It is an open secret that the Philippines has refused to set up a consulate in Sabah because they deem it (a consulate) would be fatal in their claim for Sabah, the logic being that they (the Philippines) cannot set up a consulate in their own country.

This is why the Philippines Embassy in Kuala Lumpur chooses to provide consular services to their citizens by sending officials to Sabah occasionally even though this long distance arrangement is causing hardship to their citizens here.

"Although we Malaysians believe that the "Sabah Claim" is a dead issue, on the Philippines side, this issue is kept alive as a form of "psychological warfare".

It is reasonable to suspect that the Philippines are continuously preparing the Filipino psyche for a more effective claim on Sabah at a future date.

For instance, Sabah (North Borneo) appears in their national maps. Note that "Malaysia" was not identified; just Sabah (North Borneo). Although Sabah (North Borneo) was shown to be separated by an international boundary, the appearance of Sabah (North Borneo) in their national maps reinforces their peoples' mindset that there is this place called "Sabah (North Borneo)" that is part of Filipino territory.

Otherwise, it is absolutely not necessary for Sabah (North Borneo) to appear in their national maps.

"What is our Government doing about all these matters? We can reject the Philippines's Sabah claim but we should not ignore the dangers of anti-Malaysia elements championing it."

If the Government policy is that we should not talk about the so-called Sabah Claim because Malaysia does not recognize it, then it must also show that such treasonable actions will be harshly dealt with.

The burning of Sabah flags in Lahad Datu April 4 is a manifestation of the potential for trouble at a future date. Although the police found that the flag burning was the work of a tiny group, the authorities cannot be sure if the incident has the tacit support of a wider section of the community, both local and foreign.

The flag burning, "The New Sulu Times" and websites promoting the "Sabah Claim" add to the mindset of anti-Malaysia elements that could germinate into a future threat to the Malaysia's security which should not be underestimated.

"In compelling the Philippines to set up a consulate in Sabah, our government should consider the suspension of their consular services conducted from KL, withdrawal of the Malaysian consulate in Davao, the suspension of the Philippine-owned Mindanao-Sabah ferry services and review the help that we extend to the Philippines in international bodies such as the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), which the Philippines desperately need. The Philippines must be made to understand that good relations with Malaysia will benefit them too." said Yong.

SAPP wants to know why loan RM601 million given to KL company?

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said the Sabah State Government owes the people of Sabah an explanation why a RM 601 million loan was given by the Sabah Development Bank (SDB) to a KL company to develop luxury condominium in Kuala Lumpur's Ampang.

As reported in the business section of a national newspaper Thursday, a property developer, Perspektif Masa Sdn. Bhd., has secured a RM 601 million loan from SDB to finance their RM 1.5 billion project in Ampang.

SAPP president, Datuk Yong Teck Lee added that this loan being one of the biggest loans ever granted by SDB is sure to raise eyebrows.
"It is equivalent to the RM 600 million in infrastructure grants allocated to the State of Sabah under the second stimulus plan for these two years. Such a huge loan, if disbursed in Sabah, would have been a huge stimulus to the Sabah economy," he said

Instead, the former Chief Minister said the wholly Sabah Government-owned bank has seen it fit to lend the money to KL as though Sabah has no need of any investment funds. The local business community knows that banks have been very tight in lending money these days because of the global financial crisis. But the SDB seems not to know or care.

Therefore, SDB should disclose whether such a huge loan outside Sabah has obtained the approval of the State Government.

The people of Sabah deserve to know whether SDB has departed from its primary role as the leading financial institution (DFI) to promote the growth of the Sabah economy.

According to the Sabah Chief Minister, who is also the Finance Minister overseeing SDB, Sabah has many attractive investment projects created under the Sabah Development Corridor.

Don't these corridor projects need financing?

"Or is it because our own Sabah Development Bank has lost confidence in the Sabah economy? Are there no projects in Sabah that are viable to qualify for SDB loans? Are there no more projects that can be profitable for SDB to lend to?"

SDB and State officials must not underestimate the potential for loss of investor confidence when investors see that Sabah's own development financial institution has decided to channel a huge chunk of its loan portfolio to non-Sabah projects."

Already, there is widespread concern over the untimely closure of the ceramic tile factory in Labuan this month caused by the hike in natural gas prices sold by the Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC) to a SEDCO subsidiary, Guocera Tiles Industries (Labuan) Sdn. Bhd.

SEDCO (Sabah Economic Development Corporation) is a State Bumiputra agency dedicated to develop Sabah's industrial development.

In spite of the wide media coverage of the controversial closure of the Labuan tile plant, none of the State government Ministers or officials have bothered to explain or show any concern over the matter. Other than losing jobs, the plant closure also affects investor confidence.

In Sarawak, Penang and other states, news of similar factory closures are promptly attended to by senior ministers. Here in Sabah and Labuan, senior leaders do not seem to care." said Yong.

Musa: Desperado Sowing Seeds Of Discord

The reports below did not say who the Desperado is but reading between the line one will positively identified the leader as former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee, the president of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman urged the people not to be hoodwinked by a leader of a political party who is instigating the people to go against the federal government.

Describing the leader as a desperado, Musa said the people would be at the losing end if they were to believe the slander and allegations hurled against the federal government.

"This politician has been known to vent his anger at the federal government despite Sabah receiving an allocation of RM20 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

"It is a huge allocation as Sabah is the second biggest state in the federation. Never let your heart rule your head and support the party which has been striving to improve the people's well-being," he said at a community event in Tawau, Sabah Monday.

Until when will SAPP goes solo?

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the party will not rejoin Barisan Nasional (BN).

He gave the assurance when responding to queries from old and new members as well as supporters and friends if SAPP has any intention of rejoining the ruling coalition after the transition of power from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his Deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in March.

Yong, who announced this during a meet-the people session in Bongawan, Papar on Saturday, said the issue of SAPP rejoining BN does not arise, no matter who is leading the coalition.

SAPP pulled out from BN on Sept 17, 2008.

SAPP roadmap campaign

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee has been acknowledged as a non-racial political party as evidenced by the growing number of non-Muslim bumiputras joining its political struggle to fight for the rights of the Sabah people.
During its roadmap campaign, Sapp organised a simple welcoming ceremony for new members at its Tenom stop today.
The campaign which started a few months ago in Sandakan visited the east coast and northern region of Sabah to brief the grassroot members and supporters on the current political issues.
The campaign held at a hotel in Tenom saw a turnout of 350 members and supporters. Speakers include Yong, Deputy president Datuk Liew Teck Chan, vice president Datuk Frankie Chong, Youth Chief Edward Dagul, organising secretary Kassim Sulaiman and former deputy president Datuk Philip Yong.
Yong thanked the members for remaining steadfast with the party, their strong support and belief in its struggle.

SAPP to contest Pensiangan if...

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the party will contest if a by-election is held for the Pensiangan parliamentary seat.
He said local residents here who are either party members or supporters would get the chance to be the candidate.
Yong was responding to a question from a supporter during a SAPP seminar in Keningau., Sabah, Friday. About 600 members together with their leaders participated in the one-day course.
Yong said he was pleased that SAPP still had strong support in rural areas.
In Sook division, he said they have five party branches with about 1,000 members and in Nabawan, there are three branches with 320 members near Nabawan township, Sapulut and Pensiangan.
On former SAPP Deputy President Datuk Raymond Tan who intends to form a new political party, SAPP Vice President Datuk Philip Yong said Tan is more likely to be a supporter than a party leader.
In the seminar, several supporters proposed that Yong be nominated as the candidate for Pensiangan as many believed he is not politically selfish and has shown sincerity in his struggle to serve the Sabahans' interests.
On Sept 8, the High Court here declared null and void the Pensiangan parliamentary election result in which PBRS President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup won the seat unopposed on nomination day on Feb 24 for the 12th General Election in March.
On Sept. 11, Kurup applied for a stay of execution at the Federal Court in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, following the Kota Kinabalu Election Court decision. The decision on Kurup's appeal would be heard on Jan. 7, next year. More HERE

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Kota Kinabalu deserves an advanced general hospital, says Sabah Progressive Party president, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee in Kota Kinabalu today. He described the city of Kota Kinabalu has today become a city without a general hospital.

"This is grossly unjust to the people of Kota Kinabalu and a shame on our government. Therefore, the government should promptly build the proposed new twin tower blocks, demolish the old tower block and rebuild a new block and give the people an advanced, user friendly general hospital befitting the half a million people residing in City of Kota Kinabalu and surrounding areas," said Yong in a statement.

Yong added that the dismal state of the QEH complex is another latest glaring case of negligence and lack of forward planning by the federal government over the basic services that the government is duty bound to provide to the people.

Gone are the days when hospital patients and visitors only had to worry about broken lifts. Today, the entire hospital has reached "the advanced stage of a terminal disease" according to the Sabah State Health Director.

People recall that each time a new health minister has been appointed, a high profile visit to QEH is organized, usually timed together with a local MCA political event. Yet, our general hospital has been left to deteriorate to such an extent that lives are now at risk and State health officials are left in a state of panic over what to do next.

The Minister of Health should stop dilly dallying over the old tower block at the QEH hospital complex. Since "all options had been studied in detail" by the Ministry of Health, the Public Works Department and private consultants, there is no excuse for the government in not being able to make a decision promptly.

As claimed by the professionals engaged to evaluate the existing tower block, the tower block "is already in a high degree of premature deterioration and in severe structural stress", then the demolition of the existing block and rebuilding of new block should start without any further delay, concurrently with the construction of the proposed twin tower blocks.

SAPP is relieved to learn that the proposed Kinarut hospital is not meant to replace the general hospital (QEH) in Kota Kinabalu. Kinarut is too far away from the main population centre of Kota Kinabalu city.

It is best to improve the infrastructure and the services at the present QEH complex because, at the moment, the whole complex is very unfriendly to users.Other than the shortage of hospital beds and other medical facilities, car parking facilities are almost non-existent.

It is a tough task getting into the hospital and out. If you are already sick, the journey to the hospital ward could make your condition worse. Waiting rooms are lacking, canteens and toilets are unwelcoming, to say the least.

"Although we know that the hospital authorities and management, doctors and staff are dedicated to their work, their level of service is very much constrained by limited resources, manpower, equipment, beds and supporting services. The men and women working at our hospitals deserve better working conditions and facilities in order to provide quality health care to the people," said Yong.

SAPP to join Pakatan Rakyat

Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, who pulled out his Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) from Barisan Nasional on Sept 17, today had a meeting with Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Kota Kinabalu.

Anwar confirmed this to reporters after opening Parti Keradilan Rakyat service centre for Kota Kinabalu constituency in Jalan Damai, Luyang this afternoon. He further told reporters the same after opening Sabah PKR Convention in Tuaran.

When asked whether he would invite SAPP to join Pakatan Rakyat, Anwar said," This is being done."

Anwar is expected to elaborate further about his meeting the SAPP president in a Press conference at 9am tomorrow before returning to Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Yong is scheduled to give a Press conference at 12.30pm tomorrow after opening the party's new office at Putatan Square, Putatan.

SAPP out forever...

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) will not rejoined Barisan Nasional Government which its ditched on Sept 17, 2008. The party's president Datuk Yong Teck Lee (pix) said SAPP would not return to BN even if Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi resigned as Prime Minister.

"It is not a personal issue that If Abdullah were to leave...we will be back in BN," he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu.

On another matter, Yong confirmed that Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tah Shu Kiah, who had declared himsepf a BN Independent after SAPP quit BN, had yet to submit his resignation as a member of SAPP.

My Say:

It look like SAPP will forever be in the Opposition unless of course the BN will lose grip of the Government to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan Rakyaat.

Tham: Good Bye SAPP

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party's co-founder and think-tank chief Datuk Tham Nyip Shen (pix) has left the party.

He is the fourth prominent figure in SAPP to leave after the party ditched the Barisan Nasional last week.

Tham, 50, who co-founded the party with current president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, tendered his resignation from the party and as chairman of Progressive Institute of Public Policy Analysis effective Sept 18.

SAPP had already lost deputy president Datuk Raymond Tan, Youth chief Au Kam Wah and senior vice-president Jimmy Wong.

Tham also resigned as science and technology adviser to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman on the same date.

Before announcing his resignation yesterday, Tham had met with Musa, who is state BN chairman, to thank him for the opportunity to serve at the ministerial-level.

Tham, who was Elopura assemblyman from 1985 to 2004, and served as deputy chief minister from 1998 to 2004, was SAPP's deputy president when it was formed in 1994.

"As a result of recent development in the SAPP, I'm sad to leave the party which I helped found and form," he said, referring to the party's withdrawal from the BN.

"The consequences of the party leaving the BN have also brought me out of the national coalition."

Tham said he would be taking a break from politics but will continue to speak up on issues affecting the state and the people.

He also said that he would not be joining the opposition.

My Say:

My earlier posting on Tham was made from my handphone which unfortunately went `low bat' while I was sending to this blog. This up-date is from HERE

Still on Raymond Tan

Tan sets poser over SAPP membership

Adopted from HERE
KOTA KINABALU, MON: Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah has set a poser over his membership in the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

Asked if he had resigned from SAPP, Tan said: “You have to ask them (SAPP).

Did you ask them whether they are sending a letter to Barisan Nasional (BN) officially, to say SAPP is out of the BN?

“I learnt it from them, that’s how they do it. They declare they are out of BN, so I also declare I’m out of SAPP.”

He spoke to reporters before meeting Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to discuss his position in the State Cabinet following SAPP’s announced withdrawal from the BN on Sept 17.

Asked if he still considered himself a member of the SAPP, Tan replied: “Consider myself? Myself is not important, I think it is more of how SAPP considers me.”

Tan said that since he had not sent any resignation letter to the party, he was leaving it to the party as to how it wanted to go about the matter.

“I asked them during the supreme council meeting (last week) whether it is right to leave BN by just declaring (through announcement). That’s why you have to ask them. I have declared I am out of SAPP. Is it enough or not enough?” he said.

On another question, Tan said he did receive invitations from other BN component parties and even opposition parties like the DAP to join them, and said he would consider all these options.

However, when asked if he had made contact with them, he said he had met many of the parties’ leaders at functions but not particularly on this issue.

Asked if the members who quit SAPP had decided on a new party, a name and the leadership line-up, Tan said they had not reached that stage yet.

“But I told them that they would have to obtain feedback from the grassroots in my constituency and other areas in Sabah. That will take time.

“Many of the grassroots have asked and voiced the option to set up a new party, but a party which can be well accepted by the BN,” he said.

On Sept 17, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee announced the party’s decision to pull out of the ruling BN coalition, three months after SAPP declared that it had lost confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Following the decision, Tan, who was SAPP deputy president, declared that he was no longer a member but did not submit his resignation. This was followed by the resignation of hundreds of other members in 15 branches in Tan’s Tanjong Papat state constituency.

The 49-year-old politician was among three senior SAPP leaders who disagreed with the party’s decision to leave the BN coalition. The other two are SAPP youth chief Au Kam Wah, who is also the Elopura state assemblyman, and vice-president Jimmy Wong. The SAPP central leadership yesterday confirmed receiving the resignation letters from the duo.

In the last general election, Tan retained the Tanjong Papat state seat with a majority of 3,926 votes. Tan secured 6,418 votes while his opponent, DAP’s Teo Yan Boon alias Anthony, garnered 2,492 votes.

Raymond Tan stays as Deputy Chief Minister

Tanjong Papat assemblyman Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah (Pix) will continue to be Sabah Deputy Chief Minister even though Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) had ditched Barisan Nasional (BN).

The SAPP Deputy President met Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman this morning to submit his resignation but was instead asked to stay on with his post in the Sabah State Cabinet.

It's the Chief Minister's prerogative to keep Tan as one of his three deputies. The other Deputy Chief Ministers are Datuk Haji Yahya Hussin (Umno) and Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (Parti Bersatu Sabah).

Tan had wanted to tender his resignation letter from the Cabinet as SAPP was no longer in BN. SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee had on Sept 17 announced that the party who had been with BN for 14 years was pulling out.

Tan was against SAPP's decision to quit BN but had said he was not resigning from the party that he helped formed in 1994.

Musa had said that SAPP members who was not agreeable to Yong's pulling out of BN are welcome to join any to the BN's component parties or they may form a new political party.

At least for now, Tan will be an BN-Independent Assemblyman. He had not resigned from SAPP but actions between the party and Tan of late showed that he was not wanted in SAPP.

And this had been confirmed by Tan.

On Sept 20 (Sarturday), Tan had said that he had not handed his resignation letter as a member of SAPP.

"I feel that probably the party don't want me. It not for me who don't want the party."

They are ditching Yong Teck Lee!!!

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah is expected to tender his resignation letter on Monday, and quit from all posts in the state cabinet.

Tan, who is Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president, said he needed to wait until Monday to meet Musa and hand over his resignation letter. Musa is currently out-station

Tan, who is also State Infrastructure Development Minister, was among the SAPP supreme councillors who disagreed with the party’s loss of confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and decision to leave the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition yesterday.

He has not decided whether he will leave the party.

However, he said he would consider feedback from grassroot supporters to determine his status in the party.

In another development SAPP vice-president Jimmy Wong and the party’s youth chief Au Kam Wah have both resigned from the party. Both said it was against their conscience to remain the party, which pulled out of the Barisan Nasional coalition yesterday.

Au, who is also Elopura state assemblyman, said he will remain as an independent despite getting offers from BN parties and Opposition.

Wong said he would also let Musa decide his position as a Political Secretary to the Chief Minister.

SAPP Just A Nuisance, Says Abdullah

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it was apt that the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) left the Barisan Nasional (BN) as it was a only a nuisance to the coalition.

"They are only a problem in the party and a nuisance. Let them go, it's okay," he said when met at a breaking of the fast function with Cabinet ministers, menteris besar, chief ministers and deputy ministers at the home of Deputy Prime Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here Wednesday night.

He said this when asked to comment about the decision by the SAPP to pull out of the BN at its Supreme Council meeting in Kota Kinabalu Wednesday.

At a press conference following the meeting, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee announced that the party no longer wanted to be in the BN and chose to be an independent party.

The decision, however, was not well received by two of its leaders, SAPP deputy president and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah, the state assemblyman for Elopura.

On the same issue, Najib said the decision by the SAPP was no surprise as it had been expected.

SAPP, he said, had actually hoped to be expelled from the BN but now had "jumped the gun".

"This development will not affect the BN in any way and we won't be doing a post-mortem on it," he said.

-- BERNAMA

SAPP: Sayonara Barisan Nasional

Yong and SAPP supreme council members at the Prress conference this afternoon

SAPP Supreme Council declares that SAPP is no longer a member of the Barisan Nasional
Press statement by SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee after the SAPP Supreme Council Meeting at Party HQ, Kota Kinabalu on September 17, 2008 (4:30 pm)

The BN has lost its "BN spirit". It was not that the people who did not want the BN, it was the BN who abandoned the people. In spite of repeated appeals from some BN members to other BN leaders to be more sensitive to the peoples' feelings, these leaders continue to treat the people with contempt. Perhaps, after 50 years of uninterrupted government, some BN leaders have got it in their heads that they have a divine right to rule.

On March 8, the people had spoken out loud and clear. The BN paid a heavy price. But yet the BN refuses to learn. The ruthless increase in fuel prices on June 4 and the failure to tackle inflation and economic slowdown have dealt a severe blow to ordinary people. The recent blatant abuse of the ISA against an innocent journalist, an MP and a blogger only confirms that the BN leadership has not learned from their mistakes. The shameful Taiwan trip by 49 BN MPs and the instigation of racial animosities have aggravated the collapse of confidence among the people and leaders, not only on the PM but the BN as well. The PM's budget 2009 was totally uninspiring and has already been discredited even before it was debated in Parliament. The BN has lost its moral authority to rule. Numerical majority in Parliament means little if the people no longer respect you.

Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's resignation only confirms what many lawyers already knew that is that the Prime Minister and his government has never had the intention to reform the judiciary. Datuk Zaid's exposure about "the BN government being paralysed by internal strife and divisions" has also been known to many people in the BN. In many other countries, such paralysis of government will lead to fresh general elections.

The PM himself appeared drifting, not knowing what has been happening around him. SAPP has nothing personal against the PM and family. None of the matters raised by SAPP concerns his person, his family, son, daughter, son-in-law or businesses. SAPP is only concerned about the issues affecting the country such as the need for good governance, the dangers of racial polarization and injustice of economic imbalances to be tackled effectively.

SAPP hereby proudly dissociates ourselves from these shameful wrong doings of the BN government. SAPP further believes that the BN is not capable of practicing good governance and non-racial politics; that BN has no intention in granting autonomy to Sabah, returning 20% of oil royalties and Labuan to Sabah, implement Borneonisation, review unfair federal laws and departments in Sabah, solve the illegal immigrants problems and remove social and economic imbalances. The BN leadership even refused to recognize historical facts by denying September 16 as Malaysia Day, 45 years.

SAPP had only wanted to see that the legitimate rights of Sabah and the unfairness suffered by Malaysians in Sabah be given due attention with results. The BN must realize that, if not for Sabah and Sarawak, BN would be in the opposition today. But instead of sincerely working to solve the issues raised by SAPP, the BN has chosen to embark on a course of action to destroy SAPP. The SAPP Supreme Council hereby condemns the attempts of BN operatives to destroy SAPP through divide and rule tactics and by abusing the economic resources of the BN State and Federal Governments aimed at instigating SAPP members and leaders to destroy SAPP.

As a matter of fact, by deliberately excluding SAPP from four consecutive meetings of the Dewan Tertinggi and two meetings of the Management Committee ever since the announcement of no confidence on the Prime Minister on June 18, the BN has effectively terminated the membership of SAPP. The SAPP Supreme Council hereby declares that SAPP is no longer a member of the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties.

SAPP is now free from the BN. SAPP shall henceforth use this freedom to pursue our autonomous political path to fulfill our mission to establish a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society. We are no longer subservient to BN. We now have the master key to our own house. We shall build a brighter future for our people and the younger generations to come.

SAPP members who hold political appointments in the executive branch of Government shall relinquish their posts by giving the due notice under the constitution and relevant rules and regulations, starting at the Cabinet level.

With our experienced MPs, ADUNs and other party colleagues, SAPP shall provide quality opposition in and outside the Parliament and State Legislative Assembly until the time comes when SAPP is ready to be back in government.

I call on our members to be brave. Do not despair. Remember that one of our party culture seven values is Resilience. From the day we join the party, we knew that things can get very rough for us. Yes, together we shall overcome this difficult period because the people are with us. With the strong encouragement and support of the people, SAPP will succeed in our struggle.

In view of the current fasting month of Ramadhan, SAPP shall only embark on a series of political activities two weeks after Hari Raya. We shall plan a road map to victory in future elections. We shall elaborate how we plan to achieve the eight-points declaration, namely:

(i) Good governance and non-racial politics,
(ii) Autonomy for Sabah,
(iii) 20% oil royalties,
(iv) Return of Labuan,
(v) Review of unfair laws and detrimental departments,
(vi) Borneonisation of the federal civil service,
(vii) Solution to the illegal immigrants issue, and
(viii) Redress economic and social imbalances.

Issued by SAPP HQ.

This make sense

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee on Tuesday said:

1. Based on preliminary information, it seems that BN will spend more on the Permatang Pauh by-election than the RM 50 million that government is spending on tackling the illegal immigrant woes in Sabah and Labuan.

2. The national BN is already sending thousands of campaigners to Permatang Pauh. Knowing the extent and extravagance of BN campaigning, the costs will likely be in tens of millions of ringgit.

3. Sabah BN alone has announced sending hundreds of people to Permatang Pauh in Penang. UMNO Sabah leaders, youth, wanita, puteri and putera and BN components such as PBS are lining up to impress their federal leaders that they will diligently campaign to ensure a BN victory. For many UMNO divisional delegates, a trip to Permatang Pauh is also a joy trip for the on-going party divisional election campaign.

4. The costs of traveling, accommodation, food and campaigning will definitely amount to millions of ringgit. Where will this money come from? The money will not come from the national BN because the national BN is already near bankrupt by being unable to settle the (High Court) judgment debt of Ringgit 218 milllion as a result of the unpaid election bills of the 2004 general elections. It remains to be seen how the BN will settle the election debts of the March 2008 general elections. And now the BN has to face their most-feared opponent in a by-election.

5. We call on the Sabah government leaders not to allow Sabah to be the milking cow for the BN election debts of RM 218 million and for Permatang Pauh by-election. The reported RM 16 million purportedly sourced from Sabah and intended for the Permatang Pauh by-election that was intercepted by anti-money laundering law enforcement agencies in a foreign country lends credence to our worries.

6. SAPP asks the Sabah UMNO and other BN leaders whether it is in their conscience to waste Sabah peoples' money in this extravagant way.

7. At a time when large numbers of families in Sabah cannot afford an extra meal, people are struggling with petrol prices, children foregoing tuition classes, sick people missing out on medical treatment, tenants worried about over due rentals and electricity bills, the Sabah BN leaders must show that they care enough to do something about the peoples' livelihood. We all know that the worst is yet to come. By year end, families will face the prospects of higher school bus fares and various expenses related to schooling. Low income parents will have to make a heart breaking choice of either to send their kids back to school or to let them work in a tough job market due to economic stagnation with more jobless people. Inflation will rise beyond 8% and ordinary people will have to forgo some basic necessities of life.

8. On the part of SAPP, we shall only send a 3-cadre team to study the by-election for research purposes. Our 2 MPs might spend the week end parliament break to visit the constituency of Permatang Pauh with other MPs.

Count SAPP in

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee said the party's two MPs, Datuk Eric Majimbun (Sepanggar) and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui (Tawau), will support the motion of no confidence that had been filed against the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"SAPP, a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional, will support any party in moving the motion," Yong, a former Chief Minister said.

Yesterday at 3.30pm, Opposition Leader cum President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail submitted the motion to Parliament Speaker Tan Sir Pandikar Aman Mulia.

Yong: They try to isolate me

Press release By SAPP President Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee
9 July 2008
Kota Kinabalu


The meeting and photo session Monday, July 7 between Tawau MP Datuk Dr. Chua Soon Bui and Minister in charge of Parliament, Dato Nazri, was unfortunate and has cast SAPP in a very bad light as though SAPP has back tracked from the no-confidence motion against the PM.

Although Datuk Dr. Chua never mentioned the words to the effect that the proposed motion of no confidence had been "dropped" or "aborted", her comments were misinterpreted.

This latest twist makes me sad that our noble struggle has been damaged in the eyes of the people whose hopes for a better future rest with SAPP.

To put things in the right perspective and to reaffirm SAPP¡¯s struggle for the people and Sabah, I would like to reveal that I had earlier told our Party Vice-President cum Tawau MP, Datuk Dr. Chua Soon Bui, to be extremely careful when dealing with some KL leaders; it is like swimming with the sharks. I had alerted her that we had discovered the tactic of the BN leaders to use her and Deputy President/Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan to "split SAPP and isolate Yong Teck Lee".

At first, there were doubts as to why the BN generously gave a long period of 30-day to SAPP to reply the show cause letter. Later, it dawned on us in SAPP that the lengthy 30-days period was actually intended to give time to BN efforts "to split SAPP and isolate Yong Teck Lee". This is why the move by PBS and LDP for an immediate expulsion of SAPP from BN was not carried. BN tacticians wanted SAPP to be split and had lost the support of the people before action is taken against SAPP. BN did not want to repeat their mistake of 1984 when they expelled USNO which had opposed the federalization of Labuan. In State elections the following year (1985), the BN was almost completely wiped out by PBS and USNO.

As Tan Sri Bernard Dompok observed last month, Sabahans are a laid back people and unsuspecting. But in the rough world of federal politics, many earlier Sabahan leaders have been "eaten alive" and came home defeated and disgraced. From the books "Politics of Federalism" (on Syed Kechik in East Malaysia, 1976) to the banned book "Golden Son of the Kadazan" (on the late Datuk Peter Mojuntin, 1976) and "Harris of Sabah" (1986), The Making of a Malaysian (on Datuk J. Pairin Kitingan, 1991) and countless recollections, we Malaysians in Sabah have endured a collective history of betrayals, disappointments and failures.

I am sure this latest episode will make our Datuk Dr. Chua Soon Bui a stronger leader who can tell the hard truths to federal leaders, however friendly they might seem on a personal basis. As for leaders like Datuk Raymond Tan, however good his intentions maybe, leaders can be easily awed by the immensity of federal political power. The fear of the stick and the lure of carrots are enough to overwhelm many people.

Issued by SAPP HQ

Read more HERE