SAPP's vote of no confidence against PM

Wednesday, 18 June 2008
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has lost confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it said at a press conference here Wednesday.

In the coming sitting of the Parliament session on Monday, its two Members of Parliament will support a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister, the party said.

Whether its MPs table the vote of no confidence, or whether other MPs will do it, would be determined in due course, it said in a statement.

SAPP’s two MPs are Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (P171 Sepanggar) and Datuk Dr Chu Soon Bui (P190 Tawau).

The party also has four state representatives.

Talk had been rife Wednesday morning that SAPP was going to abandon the Barisan Nasional coalition and defect to the Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

The party is running a poll on its blog, asking members of the public whether it should stay on in Barisan, leave the coalition but remain independent, or join Pakatan.

At press time, there were 532 votes tallied, with 80% (428 votes) asking SAPP to join Pakatan. Only 1% (10 votes) urged it to stay on with Barisan. - The Star

SAPP not pulling out from BN but calls for PM to step down

Wednesday, 18 June 2008
SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the party is not pulling out from the Barisan Nasional but has called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down because they do not have confidence in his leadership. Yong said the party would make its stand known in Parliament on June 23. - NST

Vote of no confidence against PM on Monday \

KOTA KINABALU, June 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will face a historic no-confidence motion when Parliament sits on Monday.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) will initiate the move usually aimed at toppling a sitting government, something that has never happened in Malaysia since independence in 1957.

SAPP said in a press statement that either of its two lawmakers – Dr Chu Soon Bui (Tawau) or Eric Enchin Mahimbun (Sepanggar) – may file the motion with the party having lost confidence in Abullah's government. Alternatively, it will support a no-confidence motion initiated by other Opposition members of parliament.

SAPP also has four state representatives.

There has been a lot said recently about the possible defection of Sabah MPs in BN to the Opposition, culminating in SAPP telling the media yesterday that something decisive is on the cards and will be announced after a high level party meeting this afternoon

Party chief Datuk Yong Teck Lee said in today's press conference that SAPP would remain in the Barisan Nasional until a review of its status by this week.

He expressed disappointment in BN's rule, in particular for not being able to lift Sabah out of its impoverished state and subjecting it to unfair laws and steep taxes.

SAPP has been identified as the party most likely to switch allegiance and join Pakatan Rakyat, the Opposition coalition unofficially led by former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar is reported to have sweetened the crossover move with a list of generous incentives like higher oil royalties for Sabah and even the No 2 job in federal government if his coalition gains control.

Pakatan Rakyat needs 30 defections by BN MPs in order to bring down the present government.

Today's opening salvo by SAPP may well start the actual battle to see which side gains the upper hand in Parliament.

Wednesday June 18, 2008 MYT 4:43:08 PM
SAPP's vote of no confidence against PM (Update 2)

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has lost confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it said at a press conference here Wednesday.

In the coming sitting of the Parliament session on Monday, its two Members of Parliament will support a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister, the party said.

Whether its MPs table the vote of no confidence, or whether other MPs will do it, would be determined in due course, it said in a statement.

SAPP’s two MPs are Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (P171 Sepanggar) and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui (P190 Tawau).

The party also has four state representatives.

The statement was read out by Dr Chua and signed by Majimbun, who was overseas on official duties. He will be back for the Parliament sitting next Monday, June 23.

The statement listed four areas of dissatisfaction with Abdullah's premiership:

1) That no concrete action had been taken on the issue of illegal immigrants, despite repeated requests by SAPP and other Barisan component parties;

2) That the government had offered no holistic economic solutions to cushion the blow of the sudden hike in fuel prices, which had greatly burdened the people and threatened further hardcore poverty;

3) That not enough attention had been paid to issues raised by the people of Sabah -- poor delivery systems, corruption, wastage, lack of transparency and accountability -- and that SAPP would have failed in its duty as elected representatives if these issues continued to be ignored; and

4) That the people have lost confidence in Abdullah, and that if he can't perform, he should step aside and make way for another leader to take over.

Talk had been rife Wednesday morning that SAPP was going to abandon the Barisan Nasional coalition and defect to the Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

The party is running a poll on its blog, asking members of the public whether it should stay on in Barisan, leave the coalition but remain independent, or join Pakatan.

At press time, there were 2,828 votes tallied, with 85% (2,411 votes) asking SAPP to join Pakatan. Only 2% (80 votes) urged it to stay on with Barisan, while the remainder suggested it quit Barisan but remained unaligned.

Wednesday June 18, 2008 MYT 8:48:22 PM
SAPP MPs cite reasons for supporting decision

PETALING JAYA: SAPP’s two MPs Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui and Eric Enchin Majimbun said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should make way for other people to take over the country’s leadership if he could not perform.

During a press conference in Kota Kinabalu Wednesday, in which SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee announced the party’s decision to move a no-confidence motion against Abdullah when Parliament convenes this Monday, both Dr Chua and Majimbun issued signed press statements outlining their reasons for supporting their party’s decision.

Dr Chua, said Abdullah should step down due to a lack of action on several national issues and problems concerning Sabah despite repeated requests and appeals by several Sabah MPs from Umno, Upko and herself in Parliament.

“Our sovereignty is threatened,” she added.

She also said Malaysians, especially those in Sabah, had been greatly burdened by the sudden hike in fuel prices and the Government had not come up with a comprehensive plan to counter the issue.

“We will fail as elected representatives if the issues raised by the Sabah people on poor delivery system, corruption, waste of resources and lack of transparency and accountability are ignored,” she said.

Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun said that he didn’t have confidence in Abdullah’s leadership in view of the clash in the dates of the announcement of the dissolution of Parliament in March and the sudden and shocking rise in fuel prices.

Wednesday June 18, 2008 MYT 8:54:19 PM
Yong: Enough is enough (Update 3)

PETALING JAYA: The continued insensitive attitude of the Government towards serious issues in Sabah is the main reason Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) decided to move a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister.

Its president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the party had to make a stand before the “window of opportunity” closed by August after which Sabah would be forgotten again.

“The nation’s attention will switch to MCA and Umno elections, people will be pre-occupied with the fasting month, Hari Raya, school exams and year-end events,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

“Political fatigue in the national mainstream over 'Sabah-Sabah-Sabah' issues will set in.”

He said the momentum for Sabah to recover autonomy, obtain 20% oil royalties instead of the present five per cent and the return of Labuan would be lost.

“Unfair federal laws, excessive taxes and structural imbalances in the economy will remain entrenched. Sabah will remain the poorest state subservient to central leadership.

“The illegal immigrant problem will reach boiling point.

“With our political move, SAPP hereby initiates the political process to claim 20% in oil royalties, which is after the all the natural resource of Sabah,” he added.

Yong said the extra billions could be invested in agriculture, education, capacity-building and achieve self-sufficiency in many areas.

“We can therefore insulate ourselves from external shocks or an economic tsunami,” he said.

He added that the people of Sabah were also suffering from high inflation because of recent “astronomical” and “unexpected” fuel price hikes, which was contrary to a Barisan election promise.

He said fuel prices have caused the business sector to stagnate and predicted that unemployment and social problems would rise.

“But the Government’s responses seem ad-hoc, flip-flop and lacking in foresight with a fire-fighting style,” he said.

Among the problems that Yong said would remain unsolved were poverty eradication, rural development, racial politics, illegal immigrants, crime and drugs.

Wednesday June 18, 2008 MYT 7:58:33 PM
Nazri: No-confidence vote cannot be tabled on MondayBy SHAHANAAZ HABIB


KUALA LUMPUR: The vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi cannot be tabled on Monday as this has to be done in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat, said Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department who is in charge of Parliament said that under Standing Orders rule 27, a notice for any motion had to be given in writing 14 days in advance.

"So far, no such motion has been given as yet," he said when contacted.

Alternatively, Nazri said the vote of no confidence could be tabled through an emergency motion under Standing Orders rule 18(1).

He said this however had to fulfil three criteria -- it has to be a definite matter, urgent and of public interest.

In such a case, he said, it required only a day's notice.

"It would be up to the Speaker to decide whether to allow it or not. The Speaker wields a lot of power," he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
should make way for other people to take over the country’s leadership
if he could not perform.

Then who is the one should take over if Pak Lah step down? Najib? Anuar Ibrahim? or Datuk Yong himself?

SAPP freezes anti-PM vote for now

The Malaysian Insider

PARLIAMENT, July 7 - The Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) is freezing it's no faith plan against the prime minister to avoid blame for political uncertainty which may include the imposition of a possible Emergency rule.

SAPP Tawau MP Datuk Chua Soon Bui said today the party fears being accused of helping to derail democracy. The party said three weeks ago it lacked faith in Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's leadership and would move or support a no-confidence vote but it came to naught.

"The dynamics of politics have changed over the last two weeks. We feel that SAPP do not want to be made the scapegoats if there is emergency rule or any outcome that affect the public," Chua said after meeting Minister in the Prime Minister's department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and House Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Chua's view reflected public uneasiness over the recent joint exercise by the police and army which resulted in rumours about possible emergency rule.

She also noted the current situation has changed with the Federal Government's moves to solve the party's main concern - illegal immigrants in Sabah.

"The people voice has been heard," Chua said, stressing that she was not going to jump ship from the Barisan Nasional to the opposition.

"I am still in the BN," she told reporters who crowded her re-appearance after missing for two weeks.

Fellow SAPP lawmaker, Datuk Eric Enchin Majibun (BN-Sepanggar) said last week she was unlikely to attend Parliament as her back was giving her trouble.

"The back trouble kept me out for the whole of last week. I was advised by party bosses to get well first. I am still in the BN," she added.

Nazri later told reporters Chua had met to discuss her absence during the last two weeks.

"She was concerned about the possible action the BN would take against her for being absent during the motion on inflation. She had wanted to know if it would affect her," he said.

Nazri said there would be no disciplinary action against her as there were nine other BN lawmakers absent on that day.

"It is normal for some not to attend as they had reasons. Anway BN carried the day and won the vote."

Tuesday July 8, 2008
Tan grateful to SAPP leaders

KOTA KINABALU: SAPP deputy president Datuk Raymond Tan is grateful that his fellow party leaders have decided not to pursue a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.

“I did not agree with the motion and now (SAPP vice-president and Tawau MP) Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui shares my view.


“A lot of things have been said but basically people will have second thoughts about really getting down to doing it (motion of no confidence),” said Tan, who is Deputy Chief Minister and state Infrastructure Development Minister.

SAPP secretary general Datuk Richard Yong said the stand taken by Dr Chua was that of the party’s.

“It is the party’s stand in view of various events that have taken place since our announcement of a planned no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister.

“We don’t want to be the scapegoat for anything that might come about from the current political situation.”

On Sunday night, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee chaired a meeting with senior party leaders. He issued a statement asking members to be cautious over the current political situation in Kuala Lumpur.

Upko deputy president and Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Bumburing said that the development was good for political stability.

“SAPP must have done some soul searching. It’s their right to make such a decision,” he added.

Liberal Democratic Party president Datuk V.K. Liew said the SAPP decision was the most “sensible” thing to do.

“This is in view of the fact that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a hardworking and solid leader.”

The Backbenchers Club’s deputy chairman and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin hoped “bygones would be bygones.”

“Now, we should concentrate on developing Sabah,” he added.

Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh congratulated the SAPP for not proceeding with the no-confidence vote.

“Actually, they should have considered whether it was proper or not even before announcing it,” he said.

Putatan MP Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh said Dr Chua was a rational person. “She knows what’s right and wrong. She’s in the right direction now.”

Dr Marcus said the Opposition would not be happy to see the “government in peace”.

“There are some weaknesses in the Government but do not take advantage of these. We all should help out.”

SAPP's Firm on "No Confidence"

SAPP Blog

KOTA KINABALU, July 8, 2008: SAPP Secretary-General, Datuk Richard Yong today categorically asserted that SAPP's stand on SAPP’s loss of confidence in the PM still remains.

Yong asserted this in a brief statement issued here today, to clarify the news reports yesterday that "SAPP drops no-confidence motion".

He reiterated that the Party will proceed with the proposed motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister when the time comes, but not at the moment in order not to fall into the trap of some racialist opportunists especially in view of the current volatile situation in the country.

He also noted that its MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui has at the Parliament House today categorically clarified the news reports on her interview yesterday which, had been distorted as, she had never said SAPP has dropped the proposed motion.

July 8, 2008 3:22 PM

No-confidence issue is not over, says SAPP

By LEE YUK PENG

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah Progressive Party’s (SAPP) deputy president Datuk Eric E. Majimbun (BN - Sepanggar) does not rule out the possibility of filing a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in future.
The party may do so at other times when the political scenario and ground sentiment deem suitable for such action.
At the moment, Eric said it was not suitable to do so.
"I (would) never say it is off," said Eric when asked by reporters at the Parliament Lobby on Tuesday.
Asked whether the party had sent the motion to the Speaker, Eric said "not yet" but the party may do so “ when the time comes.”
Eric, however, thanked the Government for paying more attention to Sabah now.
Asked whether he would leave Barisan Nasional to join the Opposition, Eric said: “We never say we are out of Barisan.
“We are still in the SAPP,” he said.
Eric also said the party was in the midst of preparing its reply to the show-cause letter issued by Barisan.
Eric also said the threat issue was over and he was not worried about that.
“I am safe in Malaysia, this is our country,” he said.

The Malaysian Insider

Thursday July 10 2008.

Latest from Parliament.

The Opposition will file application for no-confidence motion against PM to Dewan Rakyat Speaker at 3pm today

SAPP to finally make good no faith in PM threat


KOTA KINABALU, July 11 - Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) two lawmakers will support Pakatan Rakyat's motion of no confidence against Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament on Monday, finally making good their threat which the party decided some three weeks ago.

The Chinese-based party froze the proposal after it claimed there were threats against its MPs from others angry with "the prospect that two non-Malay MPs from SAPP was going to bring a Malay Prime Minister into disrepute."

"Now that a motion of no confidence is being proposed by a Malay MP (Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah), the race factor is eased," the party said in a statement released today.

It also said the action by Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun and Tawau MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui is in line with the party's June 18 announcement that it lost confidence in the Prime Minister.

"We reiterate SAPP's loss of confidence in the Prime Minister and the need for urgent government measures to address issues on Sabah rights and current concerns (fuel and food prices hike) plaguing the state," they said, without referring to Abdullah's decision yesterday to relinquish his position in June 2010.

Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee had said its plans were shelved due to inflammatory and threatening statements from some government leaders, including veiled threats of bloodshed uttered in Parliament by Kota Belud MP Datuk Ab Rahman Dahlan.The former Sabah chief minister is under investigations for corruption but he claims the Anti-Corruption Agency probe is politically motivated and related to his party's lack of faith in Abdullah's leadership.