News from SAPP HQ and leaders

As the events were unfolding in Permatang Pauh, SAPP led by Datuk Yong Teck Lee had a press conference in the morning at the party HQ operations centre. The press corp gathered expecting Yong to make an announcement on the comment of Kitingan statement on the 2 SAPP MPS joining Pakatan. Even the special branch had a good turnout.

The cameras were rolling as Yong came down to the operation centre for the press conference. It turn out to be a Malaysia day signage unveiling ceremony (attached) but with some spices. Below are his full press statement;


1. For 45 years, the nation has been struggling with the idea whether the national day (Hari Kebangsaan) should be celebrated starting from 1957 (when Malaya achieved independence) or 1963 (when Malaysia was formed after the Malaysia Agreement with the United Kingdom, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak).

2. Both Sabah and Malaya achieved independence on August 31 but on different years; Malaya in 1957 and Sabah in 1963. On 16 September 1963, Malaysia was officially formed and the new Malaysia flag with 14 stripes of red and white and the 14-pointed star was raised for the first time in Malaysia.

3. At one of the BN Supreme Council meetings last year (2007 being 50 years after Malaya achieved independence), this was debated again, mainly between the UPKO President who favoured 1963 and an UMNO leader who insisted on 1957. As we all know, the federal government defied historical truth and went ahead to declare the 50th Hari Kebangsaan for Malaysia, thereby using 1957.

4. Today, we see that the authorities still insist on using the historically erroneous date of 1957 for Hari Kebangsaan. What saddens the people is that even the Sabah State Government has mistakenly or obediently adopted the 1957 date by declaring this year’s Hari Kebangsaan as 51st rather than 45th. We note that Sarawak has done the right thing by celebrating the the 45th Hari Kebangsaan and not the 51st Hari Kebangsaan.

5. SAPP calls on the Sabah State Government to do justice to the early pioneers of Sabah and the founders of the Malaysia to declare 2008 as the 45th Hari Kebangsaan and not the 51st Hari Kebangsaan. People in Sabah (then North Borneo) and Sarawak has nothing but colonial rule to celebrate in 1957. As true Malaysians, we should celebrate 1963.

6. Our bill board “Malaysia 1963” at our party HQ today is to highlight to the Government and the people that we celebrate Malaysia 1963 and the 45th Hari Kebangsaan. We call on academicians, historians, civil servants and our political leaders to speak up in the interests of history and true facts so that the government will respect history and truth.

When asked further on the comment of Dr. Jeffery Kitingan, Yong said that based on Kitingan words, the other MPs mentioned were UMNO’s so why only asked about SAPP?

One different thing about the press conference were the conspicious absence of the BN flag or logo from the signage and the SAPP office. When asked, Yong quipped that even component parties in Peninsular don’t have BN logo in the office.
Pressed whether this means SAPP is out of BN, Yong added, “SAPP has not been invited the past few BN supreme councils and management meetings. So the position of SAPP in BN better be answered by the Prime Minister whom we have no confidence in, the deputy prime minister or the secretary general of BN”.

Yong reiterated SAPP policy of non-racial politics and expressed his regrets at the tactics of UMNO of racial polarisation in recent time. They should not have use the UITM students for their political purposes. This does not augur well for Malaysia especially during this merdeka month.

During refreshment a senior party leader joked that the weighing scale (BN logo) has been sent to the trade office for recalibration to make sure that it is really just and equal for the people. The scenario in Sabah is becoming like Sarawak where the CM wields too much power.

It seems that there is a lot of happening in Malaysia as after the SAPP press conference, the news corp received words that Anwar has set his target on Sarawak next especially Tan Sri Taib Mahmud. He is a man in a hurry.

Happy Merdeka!

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
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Rejection of race-based politics: Yong

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said the landslide victory of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Permatang Pauh by-election augurs well for non-racial politics in Malaysia.

He said the rejection of racial politics shown in the March general elections has been repeated resoundingly by the Permatang Pauh voters, of whom 69 per cent are Malays.

"But the BN leadership, especially Umno, never learnt. Instead of strengthening national unity among the people, Umno tried desperately to whip up racial emotions on the New Economic Policy (NEP) issue by mob demonstrations in Penang immediately after the elections.

"The orchestrating of the student demonstrations at UiTM by Umno this month, the inflammatory speeches of their MPs in Parliament and racial instigation against SAPP MPs over the no-confidence motion in June all prove that the BN and Umno are still trapped in the old mindset of racial compartmentalisation of Malaysian politics," he said in a statement, Wednesday.

In fact, Yong said after the March general elections, both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister had declared that the BN would conduct independent studies on the losses suffered by the BN and why people were rejecting BN.

"Several high level BN committees were even formed to 're-brand BN'.

But instead of changing for the better with people-friendly policies, the BN government played around with fuel prices at the whims and fancies of the Prime Minister, inflicting suffering on the ordinary people," he said.

"High level corruption continues unabated and according to news reports quoting senior Umno leaders, this year's Umno party divisional and branch elections are the dirtiest and most corrupt in the history of the party," he added.

He said when SAPP first declared no confidence in the Prime Minister, almost all the BN component parties chose to condemn SAPP instead of solving the issues affecting the people raised by SAPP.

Towards this end he said SAPP was reminding the BN component parties to join the SAPP move of no confidence in the Prime Minister so as to effect change for the better in the country.

"SAPP now calls on the people in Malaysia, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, to be ready for change." SAPP Information Chief, Kassim Sulaiman, meanwhile, said the by-election result was a testimony of the people, including BN and Umno members' rejection of the BN administration.

Anwar garnered 31,195 votes while BN 15,524 votes, giving a majority of 15,671 votes despite BN having a membership of 26,942 (Umno - 19,442, Gerakan - 2,900, MCA - 2,400, MIC - 1,700, PPP - 500) in Permatang Pauh.

"This shows that a total of 11,271 BN members opted to support Anwar Ibrahim," he said, adding that since Permatang Pauh is in the home state of the Prime Minister, the failure of BN in wresting the seat is an expression of non-confidence on the Prime Minister's leadership.

Meanwhile, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) said it believed Anwar's win would not have any effect on Sabah let alone instigate defections to the opposition.

Its Chief Information Officer, Johnny Mositun said the victory was more or less expected since Permatang Pauh is a safe seat for him.

"Nevertheless, it would only spur the BN, especially in Sabah to work harder to ensure we remain the stronghold of BN," he said.

Mositun said PBS also wants the various component parties to re-look the power sharing concept and other issues as well as the re-branding of BN.

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
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'What Yong is seeking on SAS'

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Treasurer-General Datuk Wong Yit Ming said his party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee was asking for a clear and final investigation on SAS fiasco to punish the culprits, if any, so as to restore the confidence of the people on SAS.

Wong said this was because Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leaders have been harping on the SAS issue as though there were abuses and criminal offences committed in the affairs of SAS.

Responding to the statement by a PBS Vice President Herbert Timbon Lagadan, he said a PBS leader even named Yong as the culprit therefore it was perfectly normal for SAPP to call for an investigation or White Paper.

"How does Herbert know that there is no culprit at all if there is no investigation or White Paper? Why are other PBS leaders who used to champion the SAS issue such as Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai and Supreme Councillor Chin Tek Ming keeping quiet now?" he asked.

Wong said it was best "for Herbert to simply do his work as an assistant minister of consumer affairs to look into the problems of inflation that has caused suffering to the rakyat".

SAPP “THE GUILLOTINE SHARPENING” ~
MalaysiakiniOur correspondent Bugi wijaya files this report on SAPP







Beh Lih Yi & S Pathmawathy has their report in Malaysiakini http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88737 in which Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at his first press conference as the parliamentary opposition leader continued to keep everyone guessing on his Sept 16 plan, in which he said there would be a change of government. Things are cooking up across the South China sea in the island of North Borneo.

The thorn in the flesh of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, SAPP will be organising a Convention on Sabah Issues on this coming 30 August 2008 at the Putera Theatre Ballroom, Kota Kinabalu from 12.30pm.

The Organizing Chairman of the convention is Datuk Eric Majimbun who is one of the member of parliament (Sepanggar) who has stated his no confidence in PM. Datuk Eric said the current political development in the country had prompted SAPP to organize this convention.
The convention is a follow up to a Special Committee chaired by Majimbun which was set for the purpose of collecting, compiling and analyzing issues submitted by the people. He believes the convention will provide an opportunity for views and recommendations to be expressed by the people. The views will be compiled into a document for endorsement by other political parties, organizations and individuals paving the way for it to be adopted as a roadmap for Sabah towards establishing a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society.

He feel it is important during this critical period for the people to re-connect with the history of Sabah’s independence, the position of Sabah as a state within the Federation of Malaysia as well as the current economic condition of the State.


As SAPP has been the first BN component to voice their no confidence in PM, will they make an announcement to pull out of the coalition on the day of the convention. Remember how former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation as a life member of UMNO at his talk?

The convention will also feature four speakers that is former chief minister of Sabah Datuk Harris Salleh, Malaysia Human Rights Commission Deputy Chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, CEO of the Sabah POIC Dr. Pang Teck Wai and Kedayan author Mr Amde Sidik.

The presence of Datuk Harris will spice up the convention considering the fact that he won a election nulifying Yong ’s election as a ADUN in 1999 (http://www.freeanwar.net/facnews/justicekamil100601.htm). That had resulted in the so called “red card” for Yong who had to sit out two general elections.

It is believed Harris agrees with SAPP’s declaration of no confidence against the PM. Will 30 August see any special move on Sabah politics? Is it the prelude to the 16 September date Anwar was flashing about?

So fasten your seat belts, when the guillotine drops it is going to be really messy! Do you think SAPP will survive this Merdeka..?

Battle of September 16th Heats Up ~ Malaysiakini


Just as I thought….hmmm. Anwar is walking on thin ice. In this Malaysiakini report headlined: Pak Lah vows to foil September 16th plan http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88849 PM said in his strongest statement yet “Efforts by certain parties to destabilise the country by attempting to seize power through illegitimate means, and without the mandate of the people, must be rejected,” ”We cannot allow uncertainties to continue as this will adversely affect foreign investment, economic sentiment and the capital markets.”

“I will not allow these disturbances to continue,” he stressed. “I will not permit the mandate given by the people to be seized from BN which won the last election with a majority of the seats based on democratic principles.” As the date nears the PM knows that he needs to show his authority and this statement will send alarm bells to even those who have stood side by side with him.

What does he mean.? Is it that straighforward.? If I was him I would wield my sword and make examples of a few to make the whole bunch solid and loyal. Seems that some Sabah Barisan Nasional MPs have rejected the idea of a pledge of loyalty, a move bound to fuel more political uncertainty.

Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman, Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh,Karambunai MP Datuk Eric Majimbun and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui of Tawau would not be in a “HURRY” to sign the declaration of loyalty and they each have had their say. It is just ironic that this is happening just after the budget speech and all this will overshadow the goodies included large allocations to upgrade electricity, water and rural road facilities for Sabah and Sarawak.

Well, the “Pokok seems to Goyang-Goyang” and Abdullah knows Anwar will not yield until he is successful. Just as I was compiling this report our correspondent Bugi Wijaya from Sabah has this statement form SAPP.



Yes, the thorn in the flesh of PM, SAPP issued a statement by the president “Sharkman” Datuk Yong Teck Lee. Looks like with this latest statement, tomorrow’s convention on Sabah Issues would be explosive. The point of no return for SAPP? Let’s wait and see and he will be attending the convention.Below please find the full text of his statement.


Trust is vital in fulfilling the budget – can we believe that this government will implement the budget that the PM has tabled today? There are numerous promises in recent years that the PM has yet to fulfill.


There have been so many flip flops such as over the fuel prices, the indecisiveness over the double tracking rail project, uncertainty over the Penang bridge, cancellation of the Singapore bridge and the Port Klang Free Port controversy that the people have lost confidence in the PM. In Sabah, the suspense over the fate of the coal power plant in the East Coast of Sabah and the blur over whether to have a gas power plant in Kimanis or a RM 3 billion, 500-km gas pipeline to Bintulu have decimated the trustworthiness of the government leadership among the people.



Other examples that have made people to lose confidence abound. For instance, on 10 September 2004 the PM proclaimed a budgetary proposal in Parliament to implement a Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 1 January 2007. But because the PM did not realize the adverse consequences of a hasty GST, the Minister of Finance, who is also the PM, had to declare eighteen months later (in February 2006) an indefinite deferment of the GST proposal. Never before was a budgetary proposal (which was later approved by Parliament) failed to be implemented by the government due to ignorance of the implications of a GST in the country.


The 2005 budget too had declared its aim to raise RM 20 billion through PFI (Private Finance Initiative) for infrastructure projects as domestic investment in the economy. Hardly any of this RM 20 billion was raised up till last year. This budget 2009 is silent as to the future of PFI and did not address the difficulties faced by the construction sector due to increased construction costs in public infrastructure projects.


Economic and corporate management is still suspect. The sale of M.V. Augusta, which Proton Holdings Berhad had sold to a third party for one Euro (RM 5) who then resold the M.V. Augusta for RM 358 million (Euro 70m) last year.


At the same time, the Malaysian corporate sector is still reeling from efforts to mitigate losses over national icon Malayan Banking’s purported purchase of PT Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) for a total of RM 12.7 billion. This follows soon after Maybank share value lost sharply upon announcement to purchase 15% of a Pakistani bank (MCB Bank Ltd.) at RM 2.17 billion. The PM has yet to effectively explain how confidence can be restored among both domestic and foreign investors.


After the general elections of 8 March, investor confidence was so low that, in the 2nd quarter of 2008 (April to July), domestic investment dropped to RM 2.6 billion from RM6.7 billion (in the first quarter ending March 2008). Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) was even more bleak, dropping from RM 16 billion to a mere RM 7.3 billion in the 2 quarter compared to the first quarter before the 12th general elections. The budget presented by the PM today did not address this loss of investor confidence.



There is also no sign of the so-called RM 1 billion each allocated to Sabah (and later Sarawak) as announced by the PM on May 30 in Kota Kinabalu. Neither did these RM 2 billions appear in the supplementary budgets of last July’s Parliamentary sitting. It remains a mystery where the RM 1 billion for Sabah comes from or will go to.

The one and only sector where hard working people make money for the government is the oil palm sector. But the government jealously had chosen to punish this “golden egg goose” by imposing a wind fall tax of 15% in June 2008, something that oil palm industry is still reeling from and unable to recover. This budget 2009 did not deal with the issue of the damages caused to the oil palm industry. A form of damage control would be to reduce the foreign workers levies to a flat RM50.00 per worker so as to make it more feasible for employers to register their workers. Sadly, the budget missed out the subject of foreign workers levies.



This budget is obviously sugar-coated to pacify the people with many unprecedented goodies. But the source of funds has not been adequately explained.




As for inflation, something that affects most people, July saw a high rate of 8.5%, the highest in the last quarter of a century. For the poor people, the real effect is definitely much more than 8.5%. Pensioners and average persons with bank savings will find that their savings depreciate in value because inflation in wiping out the value of their savings. I find it disturbing that the PM has forgotten altogether to address inflation. The budget did not even forecast the inflation rate for 2009.

MP proposes correcting school history textbooks on formation of Malaysia

3rd September, 2008
KOTA KINABALU: Sepanggar MP and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Datuk Eric Majimbun said most of the younger generation particularly in Sabah and Sarawak were unaware of how Malaysia was actually formed.

He noted that many of them still failed to understand the meaning of celebrating August 31 as Merdeka Day and later on September 16 as Malaysia Day in Sabah and Sarawak.

“There seems to be confusion here and I think it is time we seriously look into this important event. We can begin by correcting certain information on how Malaysia was formed in school history textbooks which I believe have been changed over the years,” he said yesterday.

He suggested that the Ministry of Education review the textbooks while the media can play a proactive role by disseminating the facts on actual events depicting how the nation was formed.

Eric was commenting on the call by DAP parliamentary leader and Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang that the Malaysia Day on September 16 be declared a national public holiday.

It was reported that the Penang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government is also considering declaring a public holiday for Malaysia Day on September 16 next year.

A proposal has been made for the five PR-led states of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan to make a similar move.

“Actually, we have been celebrating Malaysia Day for the past 44 years, and it is already a holiday for us in Sabah. What I am more concerned about here now is whether our younger generation really know the truth and history behind the formation of Malaysia,” he argued.

“Over the years, September 16 has been celebrated as the birthday of the Head of State and its essence as a Malaysia Day celebration was not stressed on but instead treated as a culmination of the month-long Merdeka celebration,” he noted.

Therefore, he said it is imperative reflect on history because the nation of Malaysia only existed when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (which later withdrew) joined the Federation of Malaya in 1963.

August 31 marks the independence of the 11 states in the Malay Peninsula and therefore not the National Independence Day because Malaysia was only formed in 1963.

The Malaysian Insider

SAPP meets Sept 17 to decide status

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 13 - Failing to unseat the prime minister and its status within ruling Barisan Nasional still unclear, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) will meet next Wednesday to decide its future.

SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee cited three reasons for the urgent meeting, namely yesterday's ISA arrests, rising racial animosity and the BN backbenchers' Taiwan trip.

"In view of the latest political development with major consequences, the SAPP supreme council shall meet sooner at the party headquarters, Kota Kinabalu on the 17th September 2008," Yong told reporters here.

He said the party leaders would discuss the abuse of the security law against MP Teresa Kok,' journalist Tan Hoon Cheng and' blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and whether it heralded Ops Lalang 2 in reference to the 1987 crackdown.

Tan was released hours after Yong's press conference.

The former Sabah chief minister also cited a disturbing rise in racial animosity that is damaging national unity and the Taiwan trip which he said brought ridicule and disrepute to the Parliament.

"The collapse of the confidence among the people and now even among the Umno and BN leaders in the prime minister which vindicate the SAPP"s no-confidence move against the PM announced on 18 June 2008," said Yong, who put a yellow ribbon as a sign of protest against Tan'a arrest.

'

Wednesday September 17, 2008
SAPP leaders’ presence at DAP forum raises eyebrows


By MUGUNTAN VANAR
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional’s rebellious Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) showed its defiance by openly backing Pakatan Rakyat yesterday.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee gave the clearest indication of what his stand would be at the party’s supreme council meeting today.


Seeing red:(From left) DAP's Kota Kinabalu MP Hiew Khing Chew, Lim, Yong, Jeffrey and DAP vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim holdinga candlelight vigil in protest against the recent ISA arrests.

Yong was one of a panel of four speakers at Sabah DAP’s forum on Malaysia Towards a New Era.

“My presence here is to give a talk,” said Yong, who was at the forum with SAPP’s deputy president Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun, the MP for Sepangar, Wanita Chief Melanie Chia, and assistant state Finance minister and deputy state speaker Datuk Frankie Chong.

When asked after the forum if his presence was a sign that he was throwing his lot with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has claimed that he has 31 Barisan MPs in his bag, Yong said: “We (supreme council) are meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).”

Yong told reporters that it was difficult to topple a government in power for 51 years as the Barisan had the will to hang on to power despite their internal and external problems.

“It is not as straightforward and do not underestimate the resources of the Barisan despite the coalition being seen as in disarray, making mistakes and doing bad things. They have the will to remain in power,” said Yong.

Lim, who described Yong’s presence at the forum as part of the “Pakatan Rakyat Plus” team, said the 9/16 date was an important message that there was a general consensus among the people that they want to see change and an end to an inept Barisan government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“It does not matter if it (change of government) does not occur on 9/16 or tomorrow or 10/16 or 11/16 or 12/16 as people are ready for change and it can take place any time,” he added.

On Abdullah’s refusal to meet Anwar, Lim said the Prime Minister should do the honourable thing and accept that he has lost the majority members in Parliament and allow for a graceful and peaceful change in a democratic process.

“Abdullah can then at least leave something honourable for his term,” he said, adding that the Prime Minister should not be using draconian laws like Internal Security Act to stifle the democratic process of change.

Lim declined to comment if any Barisan MPs would be crossing over to DAP.

Asked if he believed that Anwar had the 31 Barisan MPs, he replied; “That, you better ask Anwar.”

SAPP to make crucial decision on Wednesday-

Malaysiakini - Sabah Progressive Party is expected to make a crucial decision Wednesday afternoon on its position in Barisan Nasional two months after declaring no confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

All indications are that the party chief Datuk Yong Teck Lee will steer his 36-member supreme council meeting beginning at 2pm to decide on pulling out of the coalition which the party joined in 1994.

If SAPP pulls out to throw its support behind Pakatan Rakyat, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan, the Tanjong Papat assemblyman and Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah are expected to resign.

Tan, the state Infrastructure Development Minister, is one of the three SAPP deputy presidents while Au, the Sabah Energy Corporation chairman, is the party Youth Chief.

Both Tan and Au are expected to attend the meeting which the party secretary general Datuk Richard Yong said Wednesday morning was to discuss party matters.

On whether the meeting will decide to pull out from Barisan, Richard said: “Our position within Barisan is always discussed at our meetings.”

While a decision on the pull out appears to be on the cards, several party members cautioned that the meeting might end up with only deciding on sending a letter to Barisan headquarters asking to make a stand on its position as SAPP had not been invited for six recent Barisan meetings in Kuala Lumpur.

Richard said that one or two supreme councillors have written in stating they were unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting. He said that SAPP’s two MPs - Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui - have indicated they will be at the meeting.

SAPP has two MPs and four assemblymen in the coalition. The other two SAPP assemblymen are assistant state Finance Minister Melanie Chia (Luyang) and Datuk Liew Teck Chan (Likas).

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.

Thank you.

Issued by SAPP HQ.

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
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SAPP pulls out of BN

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) pulled out from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Wednesday, three months after declaring the party's loss of confidence in the Prime Minister's leadership.

The announcement by party President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee at a packed Press conference after chairing a SAPP Supreme Council special meeting at its headquarters in Bornion, Foh Sang, was followed by the mass resignation of almost all the party's leaders from their respective government posts.

They were Assistant Finance Minister Melanie Chia who is also SAPP Wanita chief, Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun who was appointed Deputy Chairman of Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) as well as those holding the post of councillors and people's development leaders, among others.

Melanie and Eric said they would be tendering their resignations Thursday.

However, two others - Deputy President Datuk Raymond Tan who is a Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister and a Vice President, Jimmy Wong, who is Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, have yet to announce their decision.

Another elected representative, Elopura Assemblyman Au Kam Wah who is also SAPP Youth chief, did not attend the meeting but sent a message to Yong stating that "he will not go along with the party's decision to quit BN".

"He did not say he is resigning from the party. I also did not say that he has resigned but he is only not going along with the party's decision," said Yong when asked on Au's position.

Tan, who spoke to reporters after walking out of the meeting at about 4.15pm, made it clear that he had objected to the move and would be deciding on his position in the party as well as the State Government in 24 hours. (See separate story).

Yong said the question of whether the decision was made unanimously did not arise because "the Supreme Council made the decision and it is a valid decision".

He said of the 35 Supreme Council members, three were absent including Au. "And out of the 32 present, two objected (Tan and Wong). They have requested that their names be made public (objection to the move) although we don't normally reveal this," he said. Yong said SAPP would not be joining the opposition Pakatan Rakyat but that its elected representatives in Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly would perform their role as a "quality opposition".

"SAPP will be a quality opposition until we are returned as government," he said to cheers and thumping of the table.

Asked if SAPP would consider if it were offered to join Pakatan, Yong said they would be in communication with each other but did not elaborate.

Asked whether SAPP would change its mind and return to the coalition should Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi step down, he said:

"Kalau kapal sudah mau tenggelam, kapten mau lompat, sama juga (it makes no difference if the captain wants to abandon ship when the ship is already sinking)".

"Some people say it's too fast, some people say it's too long (to make the decision) but we look at the situation, and the time has come to remove all doubts.

"In the last few months, (we have been deliberating whether) we should be in or out. The BN has not made any decision to expel us, so after a long period of two months, may be we see the time has come," he said.

"(DAP veteran) Lim Kit Siang has come up with a new terminology which is 'Pakatan plus', but we in Sabah hope to have a 'SAPP plus'," he added.

SAPP, a Chinese-majority party, was registered on Jan. 21, 1994 by a group led Yong himself following his resignation from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) after a fallout with PBS President Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Reading a prepared statement, Yong said "The BN has lost its BN spirit". It was not that the people 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."

He said SAPP was now free from the BN and shall, henceforth, use this freedom to pursue its autonomous political path to fulfil the party's mission to establish a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society.

"We now have the master key to our own house. We shall build a brighter future for our people and the generations to come."

According to him, on March 8 (general elections), the people had spoken out loud and clear, resulting in the BN paying a heavy price but the BN refused to learn.

He added that the ruthless increase in fuel prices on June 4 and the failure to tackle inflation and economic slowdown had 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 Prime Minister but the BN as well.

"The Prime Minister'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," he said.

Yong also said the resignation of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim only confirms what many lawyers already knewÉthat the Prime Minister and his government never had the intention to reform the judiciary.

"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," he said, adding SAPP has nothing personal against the PM and his family.

"None of the matters raised by SAPP concern 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 polarisation and injustice of economic imbalances to be tackled effectively," he said.

Yong stressed that 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 realise 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," he said.

He said the SAPP Supreme Council condemned 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, he said by deliberately excluding SAPP from four consecutive meetings of the Dewan Tertinggi (Supreme Council) and two meetings of the Management Committee ever since the announcement of no confidence in PM on June 18, the BN has effectively terminated the membership of SAPP.

"I call on our members to be brave. Do not despair. Remember that one of our party culture's seven values is Resilience. From the day we joined 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 strong encouragement and support, SAPP will succeed in our struggle," he said.

Yong said SAPP would also be embarking on a series of political activities two weeks after Hari Raya during which a "road map to victory in future elections" would be planned.

"We shall elaborate how we plan to achieve the eight-points declaration, namely good governance and non-racial politics, autonomy for Sabah, 20 per cent oil royalties, return of Labuan, review of unfair laws and detrimental departments, Borneonisation of the federal civil service, solution to the illegal immigrants issue, and redress economic and social imbalances," he said.

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Red IC case not isolated: MP

Kota Kinabalu: Sepanggar Member of Parliament Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun has denied that a septuagenarian's predicament over being issued a permanent resident (PR) status after losing her identity card last year, was an isolated case.

He said 78-year-old Yong Lee Hua's matter was not an isolated case and he would explain in a press conference on Saturday.

"I will also reveal figures that would explain everything, because that would also be in connection with a boom in the state's population.

"Just imagine. Our population has increased by 285 per cent from 1970 to 2000...Of course, Yong's case is just a tip of the iceberg," Eric told reporters at the Chief Minister's Hari Raya open house here.

He was commenting on Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Bung Moktar Radin's statement that Yong's issuance of a red identity card was an isolated one.

Asked if he would reveal other cases involving irregularities of MyKad issuance at the press conference, Eric replied that he would.

Meanwhile, Eric, who is Deputy President of Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) which recently pulled out of Barisan Nasional, said they would continue with their political struggles and voice the needs of the people. - Bernama

Friday, October 3, 2008
Sabah Population Explosion
Hantu Laut

SAPP's MP for Sepanggar Eric Mojimbun said he would reveal the details that led to Sabah population explosion.He said the population has increased by a mind-boggling 285% between 1970 to 2000.

Sabahans have always complained about the high presence of aliens among the population and much to their frustration the Federal Government have ignored their plea to take appropriate action to rid the state of illegal immigrants.

Many aliens have been issued with Malaysian identity cards clandestinely by some unknown elements to fulfill their own political agenda.The Federal have time and again refused to look into the problems in spite of repeated calls by some Sabah leaders.Most Sabahans are at a loss as their pleas have fallen on deaf ears and the State Government has no power to deal with the matter.

The UNDP charts below would show that the fear of Sabah being overwhelmed by foreigners is not unfounded.

UNDP - Sabah Human Development Statistics - Upload a Document to Scribd

From the above charts one can conclude that Sabahans fear of becoming foreigners in their own land is real and if that is not enough it is also the poorest state in Malaysia due to years of plunder by state leaders and past neglect by the central power.

Although I may not agree with some of SAPP recent political rhetoric I believe an expos'e would be most welcome to reveal the truth and bring to book those responsible for this treacherous act.

The population in 1970 was 653,800.In 2007 the official figure was 3.4 million. The true figure of true Sabahan population would not be more than 1.5 million.To make matter worse the supposedly transient population had become permanent residents and multiplying faster than the local population and overwhelming the state public health care, educational facilities and other public amenities.

Don't you think we have become foreigners in our own land ?

SABAH MYKAD SCANDAL: Filipino illegal, MP have same MyKad address

Sunday, 05 October 2008 22:03
By Julia Chan, Daily Express

KOTA KINABALU: The surname and address on his MyKad are the same as the ones belonging to Sepanggar member of parliament Datuk Eric Majimbun, but they are not related. Neither do they know each other.

The MyKad carries the name Jerome Majimbon and the address is Kampung Pomotodon, Jalan Kionsom, Inanam.

In Sabah, people are regarded as having the same surname despite a slight variation in spelling.

Majimbun said: "I was surprised because we don't have a relative with such a name and the people in Kampung Pomotodon are unaware of the existence of such a person in the village."

He found out that the man in question was a Filipino illegal immigrant whose real name is Jerom Maguil.

Majimbun wants answers from the Home Ministry and the National Registration Department (NRD) on how the man had obtained the MyKad bearing the number 560930-12-5739.

"I have written to the secretary-general of the Home Ministry but I have yet to receive a reply," he said yesterday.

He cited the case to support his contention that the issuance of fake MyKad in Sabah was rampant.

He said a constituent of his was also given permanent resident status despite being born in Sabah long before it had joined the federation of Mal-aysia.

"How is it possible that a Malaysian, who has been here for years and years, is denied a MyKad and citizenship and yet there are many cases of foreigners who obtain MyKad through dubious means?"

He said the government should set up a body to deal with issues related to dubious MyKad holders.

He said there were many discrepancies in the issuing of MyKad by the NRD, but nothing had been done to correct them. He said although the state government had set up a committee to look into the matter, it had not made a difference.

"The problem has been going on for more than 30 years. We should have a computerised monitoring system but, since it is too late, we should start at the beginning.

"A royal commission would be a good idea, but this has been rejected by the government."

"In Sabah, we have the Sabah Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance 1953 which states that all late registrations have to be done in court proceedings through a first class magistrate. Has this really been done?"

Majimbun, who is deputy president of the Sabah Progressive Party which pulled out of Barisan Nasional, reiterated his call for a study on the 285 per cent growth in population in Sabah over 30 years. He heads the party's foreigners and MyKad issues bureau.

Another case of Sabahan given PR is exposed

Monday, 06 October 2008 07:55
Kota Kinabalu: Another case of a Sabahan native given Permanent Resident (PR) status by the National Registration Department (NRD) has come to light, this time exposed by the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

The disclosure Saturday came on the heels of the first case which was raised by Upko last week involving 78-year-old Penampang resident Yong Lee Hua who lost her identity card (IC) which stated she was a Malaysian citizen. The latest case, brought up by SAPP Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun, has to do with 60-year-old Thien Kau Pah B Kian Kim, who was issued a PR IC card even though he was born and has been living in Sabah from pre-independence days.

"Thien came to my house after he read in the newspaper about me going to hold a press conference todayÉeveryone including in Thien's village, Kg Melaka along Jalan Kionsom, knows him as having been living here since then but he is still holding a PR IC," he said.

Eric, who is also Sepanggar MP, said Thien had informed him that he had tried to request for a change to his status when switching from the previous blue IC to MyKad but was not entertained.

Thien had been classified as a Permanent Resident even in his previous IC.

By continuing to hold the PR IC, he said Thien, who is a Sino-Dusun, has been denied his right to vote like other citizens.

"This and the other one as highlighted in the media through Upko are not the only such cases as I remember while I was serving as the Kota Kinabalu District Chief and Chief Judge of the Native Court, we had many local natives who came to us with similar problems. I handled many such cases then," said Eric.

He said these people were referred to the relevant authorities, but "I do not know what happened after that because they never came back to us."

"We can consider this as one way to marginalise the genuine natives of Sabah, considering the much better treatment given to foreigners in terms of issuance of citizenship identity cards, including those who may had just arrived," charged Eric.

As an example, he showed a copy of a MyKad bearing the name of Jerom Majimbon (560930-12-5739/H0540992) whose address was put at Kg Pomotodon, of Jalan Kiansom, Inanam, which he said was referred to the NRD and later confirmed to be a fake.

"This fake identity card holder had even used my family's name and my village nameÉI have checked around and confirmed no such person exists, even in my family," he said.

Eric, who had raised the matter in Parliament, was disappointed that the NRD appeared to be not taking the case seriously although it actually concerns national security.

"The NRD only confirmed it is fake and that's it, without any detailed explanation like how it happened and so onÉI asked them (NRD) to investigate but until now nothing has happened," he said.

Eric said according to sources the person who went by the name Jerom Majimbon is actually of Filipino descent whose actual name is Jerom Maguil.

Eric, who is a member of the Special Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity, said apart from this, there have been cases of passport-holding foreigners who have had one or two of their children becoming Malaysian citizens, although the rest of their children are not citizens, after they obtained Malaysian citizenship status and hold the MyKad.

These cases involve foreigners from the Philippines and Indonesia, he revealed.

He said this raises a question as to how many Filipinos and Indonesians in Sabah have been awarded Malaysian citizenship and how easy it is for foreigners to obtain Malaysian citizenship status in Sabah.

"Even the IMM13 refugee document holdersÉthe Government during the 1970s had stated that 65,000 IMM13 documents had been issued then to Filipino refugees. But recently we heard the Government also saying there are still 65,000 IMM13 document holders in SabahÉwhat we know is these refugees are productive but why is the number still the same?" he asked.

"So we want to know how many of these refugees had been awarded Malaysian citizenship, or Permanent Residence or Bumiputera status?" he said.

Towards this end, he queried the population census carried out by the Government in Sabah which showed a 236 per cent increase in the Kadazandusun population between 1960 and 2000, while for other bumiputeras, it increased by 631 per cent.

He said the 1970-2000 census revealed the population in Sabah increased to 2,449,389 from 636,431 (up by 285 per cent), compared to Sarawak's 2,012,616 from 976,269 (up by 106 per cent) and Malaysia's 22,202,614 from 10,439,430 (up by 113 per cent).

"Also what is the rationale behind the Government not wanting to carry out a population census in relation to bumiputera ethnicity since the 1990sÉ and why children born out of inter-marriages are classified as only sino native?" he said.

Eric also chairs his party's Illegal Immigrants and Identity Card (IC) Bureau, which was formed after it pulled out from Barisan Nasional (BN), to gather information related to the problems of illegal immigrants and identity card problems.

He said the information gathered would be brought up to the Government's attention, to let them know and take these matters seriously.

"This is because the Government has not taken action or given apt attention to these things. As we are now already being marginalised in all aspects, what will happen to our future generationsÉpeople should not simply say that we are touching on a sensitive issue just because we are talking about something concerning the future of our children and their next generation," he said.

"The situation we are in right now calls for a change in government," he said, inviting the people to come forward with relevant information for his bureau.

- Daily Express, Sabah

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No justification for S'kan site: Yong

Kota Kinabalu: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) must urgently embark on non-coal power options rather than forcing the people in Sandakan into accepting the coal-fired power plant in their area, urged the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

Its President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said recent statements made by elected representatives and other officials in Sandakan conveyed the impression that the Sandakan people would be forced by the prospect of severe power blackouts by year 2011 to grudgingly accept the coal power plant.

"If so, such a crude way to force the coal power plant on the people is highly irresponsible," he said in a Press conference at the party's headquarters, here, Tuesday.

He said the wide media coverage on climate change and the pollution of coal power in countries such as China has awakened Sabahans.

"Concerned citizens have come up with such convincing arguments against coal power that the State Government had to reject the proposed coal power plant in Lahad Datu on environmental grounds.

"The State Government's rejection of the Lahad Datu site in April this year has effectively made it illogical for anybody to justify Sandakan as a site.

Sandakan is only two hours' drive from Lahad Datu," he said.

Yong said clean coal technology could not have improved so dramatically ever since April.

"Presumably, the contract signed by TNB with China contractors early this year is still the same one. Nothing has changed; so how can it be that what is bad for the Lahad Datu environment is good for the Sandakan environment?" he asked.

According to him, SAPP had conducted research and studies of its own with the help of an expert, Dr Yeo Hock Huat, together with Luyang Assemblywoman, Melanie Chia, and had come up with several proposals for the State and Federal governments to consider.

Dr Yeo, a Sabahan who used to work in Penang and the United States in the field of energy-related technology, has published more than 10 papers in international journals and conferences.

Among SAPP's proposals was for TNB to build a gas pipeline from Kimanis to Tawau via Sapulut, which is shorter by about 30 to 40 per cent than the 500km pipeline from Kimanis to Bintulu, hence less complicated and cheaper.

"If TNB insists on siting a power plant in the East Coast for reasons of security of supply in an 'islanded' network, then a gas pipeline from Kimanis to Tawau should be considered," he said.

Yong said it does not make sense for Petronas to pipe Sabah's natural gas 500km to Bintulu via a RM3 billion pipeline and then make Sabah import hydroelectric power from Sarawak.

"What is so difficult for Petronas to build the natural gas plant in Kimanis?" he asked.

Another proposal was to expedite the construction of the 200MW capacity Liwagu hydroelectric dam, which is ideally located in the middle of the East-West Grid interconnection as well as to fully utilise the existing under-used 275 kilovolts (kV) East West Grid for power transfer from the West Coast to the East Coast.

He said it was the duty of TNB to explain why none of these options is possible and similarly it is the responsibility of the State Government to ensure sufficient supply of electric supply without compromising the environment and the health of the people.

"The longer we wait the more time we will lose in these options," he said.

Yong said the disclosure by Sarawak Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Awang Ali Hassan on Oct 4 that talks were being held with Sabah on the possibility of purchasing energy from Sarawak showed there are viable alternatives to the proposed coal-fired power plant in Sandakan.

This option merits consideration since Sarawak is also expected to supply up to 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Brunei by 2013 by way of a transmission line from the 1000 MW Murum dam.

Therefore, SAPP feels strongly that TNB, the 80 per cent owner of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), has not sufficiently considered non-coal options before embarking on the proposed RM1.3 billion 300MW coal-fired power plant in the East Coast of Sabah.

He said TNB Chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie had claimed in full-page advertisements in local newspapers in June this year that coal was "the only viable option for eastern Sabah", but by his own admission, said natural gas was more environment-friendly and faster to build than a coal power plant.

"Granted that solar power, wind power and bio-mass are not yet commercially viable, TNB has a basic duty to the people of Sabah to invest in hydroelectric power and natural gas energy," he stressed.

He said official publications of TNB and SESB showed they had advanced knowledge of the proposed combined cycle gas power plant in Kimanis.

They also had planned to construct the Liwagu and Upper Padas hydroelectric dams as well as the options to purchase electric power from the proposed hydropower dams at Lawas and Limbang in Sarawak.

"Yet TNB and SESB have been stubbornly engrossed with coal 'as the only viable option' for eastern Sabah," he said.

"How could it be that today Sandakan has become an option? If a coal-fired power plant is bad for Lahad Datu on environmental grounds, how could it be good for Sandakan, a neighbouring nature city?"

In admitting that coal is a polluter, TNB has relied on the assumption that the management of the coal power plant will be faultless and will strictly comply with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions. He said the people have every right to be sceptical on the enforcement of EIA conditions.

"When rivers are openly polluted, huge logs smuggled under the noses of the authorities, illegal immigrants roam glaringly on the streets, turtle eggs freely available in the Sandakan marketÉour public delivery system is so weak and maintenance culture so lacking, how can the people be expected to take the risks of a potentially disastrous coal power plant in their neighbourhood?" he asked.

Towards this end, he said irrespective of what the EIA might have to say, the SAPP believed the social impact of the coal-fired power plant would cause much distress and anxiety to Sandakan residents.

Besides, impact on the social-economic and tourism development of this future city would lead to a crisis of confidence on the ability of their government to protect and promote their interests and livelihood, he said.

Also on hand were Luyang Assemblywoman Melanie Chia, SAPP CLC (new) Chairman for Tanjung Papat Poon Kee Yang, CLC Chairman for Sekong constituency Datuk Tain Fook En and Dr Yeo.

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Hamid got it all wrong: SAPP

Kota Kinabalu: The notion that the Home Minister had "restored" or "granted" the citizenship of natives like in the case of Yong Lee Hua is "absolutely ridiculous".

He has no power to grant or take away the citizenship of a person who is a citizen by operation of law, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Saturday.

To suggest that locals, who apply for recognition of their status as citizens through MyKad applications, should understand that it is a "privilege" and not a "right" is completely wrong, said SAPP Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun.

In fact, he said it is the law that determines whether a local Sabahan is a citizen and it was agreed in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution that all Sabahans are citizens.

"When Sabah formed Malaysia in 1963 together with Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore, it was expressly agreed that all Sabahans, whether native Sabahans or otherwise, shall be automatically entitled to citizenship of the Federation.

"This was inserted into the Malaysia Agreement and the amended Federal Constitution. Sabahans like Yong are, therefore, citizens by operation of law," he said.

"Even if a local Sabahan did not bother to obtain an identity card, he or she is still nonetheless a citizen by operation of law. After all, the identity card regulations do not govern citizenship status of a person.

"Identity cards originated as an emergency measure adopted during the Communist insurgency to weed out and identify subversives," he said in a statement.

Since then it has become a useful and convenient identity document.

The Sepanggar MP said for genuine citizens their status of citizenship cannot depend on the whim and fancy of the National Registration Department, if they decide to replace their MyKad with a MyPR card.

Majimbun said it was only where non-Malaysians were concerned that the Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, was right when saying that the application for PR or citizenship was a privilege.

"However, for Malaysians, it is an absolute right to obtain a MyKad that denotes citizenship," he said, commenting on the statement by the Home Minister on Friday.

Syed Hamid was reported as saying that "he had directed NRD to make it clear that applying for PR status and citizenship were not a right but a privilege."

He had earlier said that though there were 30,000 applications involving locals, he had decided to grant citizenship to Yong because it was a deserving case.

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Sabah is different, NRD told

Kota Kinabalu: The National Registration Department (NRD) should be more considerate on the plight of genuine Malaysians in Sabah who are facing citizenship problems, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Wanita Chief, Melanie Chia.

"NRD staff who are handling applications for citizenship by bona-fide Malaysians born in Sabah should understand the unique situation in Sabah.

"Until today, there are still people who give birth at home, especially in rural areas and many are ignorant of birth registration (due to illiteracy).

"They (NRD staff) should be more understanding and sympathetic towards their predicaments and be committed to helping them resolve their citizenship problem, instead of brushing them aside," she said.

She also hoped the the NRD like other government departments would come up with its own "client charter", in order to improve the quality of its service.

Melanie, who is also Luyang Assemblywoman, said this after a meeting with a group of Permanent Resident (PR) or red Identity Card (IC) holders on Wednesday.

The group said there were given red IC by the NRD despite the fact that they were born in Sabah even before the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

Melanie said most of the cases she encountered were due to PR not having a birth certificate.

Other than that, complications also arose due to the trend of native people adopting Chinese names during the colonial era in order to secure better employment, besides inter-marriages with other races or non-Bumiputeras.

The situation, she said, eventually affected their citizenship status.

In Wong Yun Moi @ Tihim case, she is a full-blooded Dusun from Papar.

She was born in Kg Togung, Menggatal in 1939 but later adopted her present Chinese name after she married her husband who is a Chinese from Papar in 1958. She was then identified as a Sino-Kadazan.

Initially, she did not face any problem with her citizenship despite not having a birth certificate till today because her parents did not register her birth.

She got her IC after the formation of Malaysia as well as the Sijil Anak Negeri (Native Certificate) in 1974 to acknowledge her "native" status.

But her problem started when she surrendered her old IC during a nationwide IC renewal exercise conducted by NRD in the early 80s.

When she collected her IC, it was no longer blue but red. She had tried all means to restore her citizenship but was unsuccessful.

She claimed that a staff at the NRD even told her that she should not be overly concerned about her red IC because she already possessed the Native Certificate.

But this proved to be a big problem when several years ago her family planned an overseas trip. Her application for an international passport was turned down because of complication in her citizenship status.

And the most puzzling was that Tihim who speaks fluent Dusun, Mandarin and Hakka, as attested by both Melanie and SAPP Youth Chief Edward Dagul during the interview with her, had been allowed to vote in the Kawang Constituency previous general elections despite being a red IC holder.

She was only unable to cast her vote in the last elections because her name is no longer Electoral Roll.

Tihim said the recent case Yong Lee Hua @Piang Lin whose citizenship was restored after her plight was widely reported by the media had given her hopes that she too could regain her Malaysian citizenship.

Melanie said she had received about 30 cases related to citizenship applications and promised to bring them up with the State NRD.

Putatan Centre Soft Opening Ceremony



Putatan Square (Nov 22, 2008): SAPP held its soft opening of the party’s first Putatan Centre at Putatan Square today at a simple ceremony marked by the planting of the SAPP flag at the centre by party advisor Datuk Haji Murshidi Nambi and attended by other advisors, members from Putatan, Supreme Councillors and the media.

The centre, taking over from what was previously the former Sabah BN head office, will be used for meetings, activities and briefings for members. The centre will be run by new members and volunteers led by Dullie Marie who was political secretary to then federal minister in the Prime Minister’s department, Tan Sri Pandekar Amin Hj. Mulia, from 1999 to 2004.
Amde Sidik joins Sapp





Academic and columnist Tuan Haji Amde Sidik, who hails from Sipitang, became a member of SAPP on the day that SAPP declared itself no longer a member of the Barisan Nasional on September 17. Age 56, Amde, who has written several books and lectures commercial law at a local university, is also a regular contributor to local, regional and international newspapers. SAPP is the first party that he has ever joined.

He explains his joining SAPP as “I believe SAPP as the only Sabah-based party which can really focus on solving many of Sabah’s problems. SAPP is going to be a full fledged multi-racial party which I consider in the long run to be where most Malaysians are heading to. At present, political parties are seen as racial political parties. Even today, SAPP is made to be seen as a race-based political party. In view of this perception, I am keen to participate to help out in shaping the multi-racial direction of the party as a way forward for Malaysians.”
Dullie Hj. Marie leads group into SAPP



Ex-political secretary to the then federal minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Dullie Haji Marie, is leading a group of individuals in the Putatan area to join Party Maju Sabah. Speaking to reporters at the soft opening of the SAPP Putatan Centre today, he said that “his joining of SAPP was because he believes in its struggle and leadership. SAPP as a multi-racial Sabah-based party will provide an alternative to the people. This is the situation that the people have been waiting for so long. Sabahans actually demand for their autonomy and other rights enshrined in the 20-point agreement. Now the people have the opportunity and SAPP will provide them the avenue to decide their future.”

Previously, he was a member of Party AKAR until when the party dissolved on May 21, 2001. Four years later, he joined UMNO. Recently he relinquished his UMNO branch chairmanship and membership and joined SAPP.


SAPP confident of expanding to more areas, future lies in the hands of the local activists




Meanwhile, SAPP President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, today expressed optimism that the Party will expand to more areas when more and more political activists realized that the party is serious in its rebranding and reinventing efforts to make itself more effective in struggling for the people in Sabah.

“It is with great pride that SAPP welcomes new members such as Tuan Haji Amde Sidik, Dullie Marie and many others into the party at the same time that SAPP has freed itself from the Barisan Nasional.”

Yong added that, “It is very rare that a ruling coalition party component will leave the government of the day and fight on as an opposition. It is even rarer that new members join this party knowing very well that the next elections is still a long way to go."

The joining of SAPP by new members in Putatan today, and earlier in Tuaran, Sandakan and Keningau, shows that many people have the great urge to see SAPP lead Sabah on a new path of Sabah autonomy and political struggle truly for the people. As the local Sabah party outside the BN, SAPP members are encouraged by the new members who join the party to fight for a brighter future for Sabah.

SAPP has also been getting strong demand from political activists in rural districts to set up branches and constituency liaison committees (divisions) which will be announced from time to time.

“We expect this organic growth of the party through a steady inflow of good leaders and committed members all over Sabah will bring about a much stronger, more broad-based and effective political party in time for the next general elections, whenever that might be” said Yong.