Wednesday, July 16, 2008

WEDNESDAY 16 JULY 2008- PBS, LDP EYEING SAPP POSTS: YONG


PBS, LDP eyeing SAPP posts: Yong

KOTA KINABALU:

The people in Sabah should examine the real motive behind the frantic calls by some BN component parties from Sabah for the ouster of SAPP from the Coalition, said SAPP Secretary-General Datuk Richard Yong. SAPP is of the view that these parties, including PBS and LDP, could not wait for SAPP to be ousted so that they will have the Government positions to be vacated by SAPP representatives to dish out to their leaders, he said in a statement yesterday. Yong said SAPP insists that its intention to move a motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister was not an isolated move to gain notoriety, but in cognizance with its struggle for the rights of Malaysians in Sabah. He pointed out BN leaders, including those from Umno, LDP and PBS, have at one time or another gone on record calling on the Prime Minister to act more expediently on Sabah issues, including those related to illegal immigrants, regional development imbalances and poverty eradication. SAPP expects leaders from Sabah who have been appointed to positions in the Federal Government not to lose sight of their obligations to the Sabah electorate vho make their positions possible, he said. “It is disappointing to the Sabah people that leaders like Dr Maximus Ongkili and Datuk V K Liew have become ‘federalised’ or ‘domesticated’ that they have become apologists for Kuala Lumpur. “SAPP doubts if PBS and LDP still hold to their commitment to fight for Sabah rights and Sabahan interests,” Yong added. If indeed they still do, he said they should find commonality with SAPP’s move which are aimed at resolving longstanding and grave issues. They would have second thoughts about calling for SAPP’s blood. Instead, they should acknowledge the fact that (as uttered by PBS Information Chief Johnny Mositun), the parties are pursuing the same objectives through different paths. Yong added that PBS and LDP’s intensity in wanting SAPP sacked from BN, or calling for SAPP to quit the coalition, is a simple act of self preservation. On Dr Chong Eng Liong’s case, Yong said the PBS Supreme Council Member and a fervent campaigner of the illegal immigrant issue resigned from PBS recently because he was told by the Party leadership to stop talking. “PBS elected representatives and other leaders have been conspicuously quiet in recent weeks. One is inclined to conclude that a gag order has been slapped on them even on issues of Sabah rights,” he said.

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