SAPP to contest only in ‘strong areas’

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has no plans to contest in all 60 state constituencies in the coming 13th general election and will instead focus on its strong areas.

“We don’t intend to contest in all 60 state seats but we will seek to get a majority in the State Legislative Assembly,” SAPP chief Yong Teck Lee said.

Addressing the current political situation in Sabah, he said it was vital that opposition parties agreed on a formula to contest in the coming polls.

Otherwise, “Sabah will continue to be split by the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) divide-and-rule tactics,” he added.

“Umno, PKR and other BN parties are all practising divide-and-rule… we must stop this by giving the people the power to choose their own state government and leaders,” he said.

Yong said the coming general election has no place for mercenary and greedy politicians and that their time in power was nearing an end.

He blamed these politicians for causing many problems in Sabah, which have remained unresolved until today.

“They are the reasons why Sabah has become the poorest state. They want to take care of themselves and are busy lobbying for posts and projects. Besides, these politicians fear being reprimanded and arrested (by Kuala Lumpur).

“If one day SAPP wins and forms the state government, it will be because we have the support… the people will be our main responsibility because they are the ones who voted for us.

“Should we fall, it will also be due to the people and not Kuala Lumpur,” he said, adding that it was for this reason that SAPP was fighting to regain state autonomy.

“Today, whether it is BN or Pakatan Rakyat, both are the same… its leaders are appointed by Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Failed promises in Batu Sapi

Speaking at a meet-the-people session in Kampung Sembulan Tengah yesterday, Yong also criticised the ruling coalition for failing to keep the promises made during last year’s Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election.

Yong, who was involved in the three-cornered fight, made the allegation based on information received from the electorate and his personal observation during a return visit to Batu Sapi in Sandakan recently.

He found that many of the development projects that were launched by the BN during the by-election had yet to take off.

“For instance in Kampung Lupak Meluas, not only are the foundation pillars of a project missing, the signboard is also nowhere to be seen.

“We have taken pictures of all this as proof of BN’s failure to fulfil its promises to the people,” he said.

The people in Batu Sapi continued to live in poverty and this was proven when he went to another village, Kampung Gas, where the BN had distributed 30 zinc sheets to each family there.

Yong found out that although the roofs of some of the houses were still leaking, the families decided to sell the zinc sheets because they do not have enough money to buy food.

Later, Yong received membership application forms from three new SAPP branches in Semporna, namely Kampung Kuala Bibang 1 led by Asmarah Asmadi, Kampung Kuala Bibang II (Hasai Tudai) and Kampung Simunul (Utung Tanjung Baru).

Former state finance minister Mohd Nor Mansoor, party adviser Murshidi Nambe, SAPP deputy president Amde Sidek, SAPP Tanjung Aru chief Richard Yong and supreme council members were also present. - FMT