Sabahans can not only bark, they can bite too

Sabahans can not only bark, they can bite too
SH Huang | Jun 23, 08 4:29pm
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Sapp MPs to move no-confidence vote.

The prime minister , in reacting to this announcement, called for the BN supreme council meeting to discuss Sapp's intention. Naturally, the component party leaders with the exception of Sapp showed their unstinting support for the PM.

Of course they have their own reasons for doing so. Some supported him because they are holding ministerial posts (and hence it is for personal interests); others supported him because they genuinely need him for the next round.

Yet others supported him because they have nowhere else to go to! Obviously, they roundly condemned the Sapp President for publicly announcing his party's stand on certain Sabahan issues.

Now, I am really interested in the causes which made the Sapp leader come out openly to tell the whole world why the party has lost confidence in the leadership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. And whether this open defiance was justified.

The Sapp leader told the PM the concerns of Sabahans and rightly so, for he, like other Sabahans, should speak up for his people - the Sabahans. He asked for:

a. The PM to initiate an enquiry into the illegal immigrants problem which has been an outstanding one for a long time and to solve it; this is just cause

b. The pm to increase the state’s oil royalty from 5% to 20% so that the funds could be used to help the people of Sabah who are among the poorest in the country; this is a just cause;

c. The PM to appoint Sabahan MPs to some important ministerial posts since Sabah has delivered a substantial number of MPs; this is a just cause;

There could be many other causes. The question is simple- did he have genuine reasons to say them openly after he had spoken about them in private to the PM? Since the PM was deaf to his whisperings, he had no choice except to talk loudly to the whole world about Sabahan causes.

Though his move wass construed to be ‘rude", crude and callous’ by certain quarters, the fact remains that he had made his requests in private but the PM was not listening. So, what choice did he have other than to shout from the rooftop?

He may turn out to be a lone ranger, but he has a strong case though the other Sabahan leaders dare not come to his aid when it comes to the crunch. When it comes to principles, a leader must

give up position, money, property and even freedom to take a firm stand - which he did.

I am sure the majority of ordinary Sabahans will support Yong to the hilt, come the next general elections. All the other so-called leaders will lose their pants at the next polls. He has shown his courage to stand up and be counted. Of course, some so-called leaders may shun him like the plague but the people will to flock him.

Guts is what a strong leader needs when faced with challenges. Sadly, the PM has shown his weak spot for he cringes in the face of strong critics. He could only show his power against defenceless peaceful protestors and the Hindraf leaders.

Why can't he revisit the many misdeeds done in the past and which caused untold suffering to certain people? Would he dare to review certain court cases? By all means open the floodgates and let those who wronged be drowned.

If he dares to do so, then many right-thinking Malaysians will salute him for his bravery. This will be his legacy which generation after generation of Malaysians will always remember him for.

So, back to the Sapp rebel. He has just causes for Sabahans. No one can deny it.Do not play political football and treat Sabah as a small boy. They can not only bark but can also bite back.

Anifah: Sabah MPs not on warpath, just beating war drums
Anifah Aman, shares SAPP sentiments but prefers to work with government. — picture by Choo Choy May

By Debra Chong
PARLIAMENT, June 23 - Sabah Umno MP Datuk Anifah Aman, told reporters in the lobby after lunch that Sabah MPs are not on the warpath to bring down Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, but they are "beating on war drums" to exert more pressure on the prime minister to address the issues that plague the state.

"We're not exactly on the warpath; we're just beating the war drums," said the Kimanis MP.

He also rebutted the prime minister's perception that many Sabah politicians were self-serving. "It's not something we want for ourselves, but for the people."

Sabah is among the most underdeveloped states in the country, he said.

According to the official statistics, it is the second poorest, after Kelantan.

Anifah also said that all Sabah MPs share the same sentiments as Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee, who last week sought a "no-coinfidence vote" against the prime minister for failing to live up to his promises. The only sentiment they do not share is the vote of no confidence.

"It's not right for me, morally, to address it in Parliament when...the prime minister has responded. Though it's not up to expectations, we're willing to wait.

"(When) You asked (for) something, (you) must also be patient to accept

whatever...If they're making efforts to address the issues, we're willing to wait but they need to be concrete plans," he said.

He also debunked statements made by the Opposition's unofficial leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that some Sabah MPs have pledged to cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat side.

"He can make as many statements as he wants. I'm making my stand clear - I'm not going to jump ship now. I've not met him (Anwar) and I refuse to meet anyone (else from Pakatan)," Anifah said.

"The only people who can assist us is the government, right? My wish is for the government to help the people. Why should I go to the Opposition when we are in government? I want to exhaust all avenues first."

Though he admitted that he had not yet met up with the two SAPP MPs, Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui and Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun, he believes that they too will stick with the BN for now and not move to the other side.

SAPP boss complains of threats

KOTA KINABALU, June 23 — Leaders from the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) have been threatened since the party agreed to back any motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last week, party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said in a statement today.

"Events in the last 24 hours have taken a disturbing turn," Yong said, adding party leaders have been advised not to underestimate the risky consequences and likely threats to them. The former Sabah chief minister himself is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) a day after he announced the party's lack of faith in Abdullah.

He outlined several threats against party leaders, among which were illegal banners instigating unspecified action against Tawau MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui appearing overnight in Tawau, an Umno gathering on Sunday in Kota Kinabalu where racial incitement was used, a planned demonstration at the Tawau MP's office tomorrow and several text messages and unidentified phone calls implying threats to the two MPs and their aides.

Chua and the other SAPP MP Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (Sepanggar) did not turn up in Parliament today to move or support any anti-PM motion which Yong explained was a result of the disturbing turn of events.

"SAPP has taken extra caution for the safety of the MPs by calling them back to the party HQ in Kota Kinabalu for consultations on the next course of action, including the safety of their persons and families and the security of their offices," he said.

He added the party, which also has four state assemblymen that forms part of the Sabah government, appreciates the support for its move against Abdullah. While SAPP is against the prime minister, it has not left the 14-member Barisan Nasional coalition.

"Media discussions, be it in favour or not of SAPP, have successfully brought the Sabah issues to the national focus. Never shall Sabah be looked down upon again," Yong added.

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Tuesday, 24 June, 2008
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SAPP duo not obliged to carry it out

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) two Members of Parliament (MPs) are under no obligation to support or move the motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister because there was no unanimous decision by its Supreme Council for it.

Deputy President Datuk Raymond Tan said he had advised Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Majimbun and Tawau MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui on the matter.

"They are fully aware that there was no unanimous decision from the party to proceed with the motion. So they do not have to do it," said Tan who is also a Deputy Chief Minister and the Infrastructure Development Minister.

Speaking to Daily Express Monday, Tan said he is prepared to defend them (Eric and Chua) if action is to be taken against them by President Datuk Yong Teck Lee or the party.

"I am ready to defend them. After all, I am still with them in the party.

"I know the two MPs have many things to do in Parliament that are more beneficial to the people of Sabah. We cannot just talk, we need to have results too. I know the Prime Minister will respond to our call," he said.

Tan also disclosed that he was unwilling to support the move to back the motion because it made SAPP and Yong an easy target for Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said nobody, including him, is disputing the paramount importance of the issues raised by SAPP, particularly in its mission statement that was announced by Yong as the party's Sabah Declaration.

But, he said, danger lies ahead if SAPP proceeds with the motion despite not getting an unanimous decision, as already people were making assumptions that SAPP is in cahoots with Anwar.

"Anwar is a political opportunist when he claimed that he has got the two MPs from SAPP on his side. He (Anwar) knows the two MPs are insignificant for his agenda because what he wants is Yong Teck Lee and SAPP as a whole to join him," he said.

"I must admit SAPP is a small party but it is a big voice for the people of Sabah. We have so much support not just from Sabah but even in West Malaysia for bringing out issues relating to Sabah.

"Our voice gets louder while the rest have weakened and some leaders of the BN component parties have gone completely silent," he said.

However, Tan said he would not be surprised if Anwar comes to Sabah to claim victory. If SAPP is expelled from BN, he believed Anwar would use SAPP as a ready platform to pursue his agenda in Sabah.

"Already, Anwar is claiming credit by saying that they are now down to 28 from the 30 MPs they need to cross over from BN," said Tan.

"I have to tell them that SAPP does not want anything to be associated with him," he said, adding that the SAPP candidates, including him, had defeated their (PKR) candidates in the last general elections.

Tan said he had also cautioned Yong that SAPP risked losing members if SAPP were to join hands with Anwar "because they will not trust our leadership anymore".

He also spoke about the ill-timed action by the Anti-Corruption Agency in announcing pending action against Yong when the Supreme Council meeting was underway last Friday.

Tan said the ACA action did not go down too well with the Supreme Council members as it suggested intimidation for speaking out and that this was, perhaps, why many of the Supreme Council members were determined to side with Yong.

He feared that further such action against Yong would only elevate his status to that of a hero.

Peaceful demo to protest Tawau MP’s no-confidence move


New Sabah Times
25th June, 2008
TAWAU: Some 20 people here staged a peaceful 10-minute demonstration to protest Tawau MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui’s support of SAPP’s no-confidence move on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“We urge her to resign immediately! She has betrayed our mandate as voters! Don’t question Malay supremacy!” they shouted in front of the Tawau Umno headquarters at about 9.14am here yesterday.

They demanded that Dr Chua retract her support for the no-confidence motion and apologise to the Prime Minister in Parliament to show her love for the people of Tawau and Sabah in general.

It is learnt that the group handed over a memorandum to Chua’s office at the Takada building at about 8.50am, and that a copy had been faxed to Chief Minister and state BN chairman Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman, the BN national secretary and the Prime Minister’s senior private secretary.

Protest leader Abdul Syeh Haji Salim, 52, told New Sabah Times that he and Barisan Nasional members felt betrayed by Chua and had lost confidence in her.

In the memorandum, the group said SAPP’s no-confidence move was akin to back-stabbing and against the concept of power-sharing practised in BN since Merdeka.

Raising the issues of illegal immigrants, poverty, development and the oil royalty in the no-confidence motion would also undermine the reputation of Musa as the Chief Minister and state BN chairman, the group said.

The group also questioned the two meetings between SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Keadilan adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

A member of the group, Haji Rackey Apna, 62, of Balung, said Dr Chua should resign as a mark of respect for the Bumiputera voters who had supported her in the election.

Meanwhile Tawau Umno chief Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan said he was not aware of the demonstration but said Chua should understand the protesters’ sentiments.

It is learnt that nothing untoward occurred during the protest, and that some 158 police personnel including 12 officers were at the scene since 7.00am.

Move to expel SAPP


PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan has moved a motion for SAPP to be expelled from Barisan Nasional during the ruling coalition’s management committee meeting yesterday.

The motion was seconded by VK Liew, president of another Sabah-based party LDP, according to a source from a BN component party at the meeting.

It is not known whether the party (UPKO), which is led by Minister in the PM’s Department Bernard Dompok, was invited to the meeting or whether it had chosen to stay away.

“Only the ‘three stooges’ attended - PBS, PBRS and LDP,” said the source. PBRS, or United Sabah People’s Party, is head by Joseph Kurup.

Thursday June 26, 2008 MYT 11:50:36 PM
SAPP given 30 days (updated)


KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional supreme council has decided to issue a show-cause letter to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) for calling for a vote of no-confidence against its leader Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Barisan deputy chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that SAPP has 30 days to reply to the show-cause letter, after which a final decision will be made on the errant party depending on developments and the party's reply.

"After 30 days, the Barisan supreme council will meet again and decide whether to issue it a warning, suspend it or to sack the party," he said after a Barisan supreme council meeting on Thursday night.

Najib said the 30-day period was to give SAPP a chance to defend itself. He said this was natural justice and procedurally correct.

He said the 13 other Barisan component parties which met were united in their views that what SAPP had done was serious and that it had affected the integrity and discipline of the coalition.

"It is clear that this action can bring damage to Barisan's interests," he added.

The 14th Barisan component party member, SAPP, was not present at the meeting because it had not been invited.

"It was not invited as we were discussing SAPP's position following its recent statement, which is very much against party discipline," he added.

Barisan chairman Abdullah had excused himself from the meeting when the matter was being discussed.

The issuance of a show-cause letter was one of the recommendations agreed to by Barisan component parties at its management committee meeting on Tuesday.

SAPP made the unprecedented no-confidence announcement on June 18.

“We have made a stand and we bear the consequences,” SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee had said then, also revealing that he had met Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on two occasions in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

The SAPP announcement saw immediate mixed reactions from stunned Sabah Barisan colleagues and the opposition. Some SAPP members, including Yong’s deputy Datuk Raymond Tan, said they had not been consulted on the move.

However, on June 20, the SAPP supreme council endorsed Yong’s decision to support the no-confidence motion, which has yet to be tabled in Parliament.

To a question whether Yong would be called to give his side of the story and defend his party, Najib said; "If there is a request. It depends on what they say in their reply."

When contacted in Kota Kinabalu, Yong said he would reply once he gets the show-cause letter.

Earlier, the Umno supreme council also met. Najib, who is Umno deputy president, was asked if he would run for the president's post if he received enough nominations from the divisions to be eligible to contest.

"I will make that decision when the time comes," he said.

Thursday June 26, 2008 MYT 7:44:49 PM
SAPP to Umno's Anifah: Go independent and lead us
By MUGUNTAN VANAR


KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is calling on Umno Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman to lead an independent group of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak.

MPs representing different parties from the two states can move the process of political change forward, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said in a statement.

Yong said that several MPs from Sabah, Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia have deliberated on the current political scenario in recent days.

“This is the window of opportunity that SAPP has relentlessly reminded our leaders and people to not let slip by,” he said.

Yong said that Anifah, who is Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman's brother, was brave and farsighted to have stepped forward to identify himself with Sabah and its people the issues raised by SAPP.

Anifah has come forward at a time when some other Sabah Barisan parties have turned their guns to attack SAPP in the name of the “Barisan Spirit”, instead of fighting for the people and their state.

Yong claimed that Anifah has refused to subscribe to divide-and-rule tactics and has come up with a fresh angle to the current struggle of Sabah to regain the autonomy of the State of Sabah (and Sarawak) by re-examining Article 161E(4) of the Constitution concerning immigration to the State.

Article 161 touches on the “Safeguards for the constitutional position of States of Sabah and Sarawak”, including matters of citizenship, the jurisdiction of the High Court in Borneo, religion, language and native rights arising from the “Twenty Points” leading to the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.

Anifah on Wednesday said that the Chief Minister of Sabah should head a high level task force to tackle the illegal immigrant problem, as under Article 161, matters of immigration came under the chief minister's jurisdiction.

Over the last four decades, this special position and autonomy have been gradually eroded, whereby power is increasingly concentrated in the central government and its leadership, he added.



DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
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SAPP proposes Anifah to lead 'political process of change'

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has proposed that Kimanis Member of Parliament Datuk Anifah Aman head a group of MPs from different parties in Sabah and Sarawak to move forward "the political process of change" in the country.

Its President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, did not elaborate on the political process of change.

He described Anifah as someone "brave and far-sighted" who had stepped forward to identify with issues raised by the SAPP.

Yong said Anifah had also come up with a fresh angle on issues like the autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak by re-examining Article 161E(4) of the Federal Constitution concerning immigration and matters pertaining to citizenship, the jurisdiction of the High Court in Borneo, religion, language and native rights arising from the "Twenty Points" leading to the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.

Yong also claimed that applications for citizenship from bona fide persons, foreign spouses, professionals and residents of good character had been denied by the authorities although the State Government had recommended them.

He also alleged that the languages of several indigenous peoples were disappearing due to a denial of these languages in schools and the mainstream media.- Bernama

Anifah turns down Yong’s invite

Datuk Anifah Aman says he is fighting for ‘change within the BN’.
JUNE 27 — Sabah Umno MP for Kimanis Datuk Anifah Aman has declined an invitation from maverick SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee to become the leader of an independent group of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak.
“While I share the sentiments expressed by the SAPP in promoting the interests of Sabah, I still believe in the Barisan Nasional (BN),” Anifah told The Malaysian Insider.

He said what he was fighting for now was for “change within the BN.”

“I am not jumping,” he said, repeating a line he has been using for months amid swirling speculation that he would be leading a group of MPs out of Umno and BN to possibly join the opposition.

But Anifah, who has repeatedly pledged his allegiance to Umno and the BN since, has become a key player in the battle for the support of MPs in Sabah as well as Sarawak.
The statement from Yong reinforces the growing stature of the Sabah Chief Minister’s younger brother as a de facto leader of BN MPs in Sabah.

SAPP's views, demands reflect the real feelings: Kiulu PBS

Saturday, 28 June 2008
Kota Kinabalu: Kiulu PBS on Friday noted that party President Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and other KDM leaders who were once very vocal on issues such as illegal immigrants and imbalanced development have fallen silent.

Towards this end, its Chief Sindin Ranggangon said the views and demands from the party led by Datuk Yong Teck Lee reflected the real feelings of most people in Sabah, particularly in Kiulu.

"Except for the proposal of a vote of no-confidence on the Prime Minister, we (Kiulu PBS) wish to express our support for the demands, views and sentiments raised by SAPP," he said.

PBS previously, he said, had been voicing out issues raised by Yong such as illegal immigrants, Project IC, power sharing, Labuan, employment, poverty and graft, among others.

Unfortunately, he said there are no concrete solutions to these issues until now.

He said it is saddening that despite the nation being independent for more than 50 years already, not much has changed in Kiulu in particular the 60 villages there.

He said there are no roads leading to the villages concerned and that the people there still lack basic amenities such as electricity and water.

Sindin said Kiulu PBS committee agrees with Yong's statement that in the present context of Malaysia, the term "father and son" that describes the relationship between Sabah, Sarawak and Federal Government no longer applies.

He reminded that Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya merged to form the Federation of Malaysia.

"It is about time that the people of Sabah and its leaders take a strong stand to unite and support the demands aired by SAPP," he said.

All the issues brought up by the SAPP are very relevant and it is the voice of the people, he said. - Daily Express