Latest developments in Sabah's political scene are an indication of the failure by PKR's top leaders to unite the people in support of a cohesive Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
KOTA KINABALU: The already muddy political scene in the state is getting dirtier as the general election looms and the battle for candidacy heats up.
The switch by former Barisan Nasional loyalists to the opposition is threatening to upset the delicate balance between the newcomers and the old hands, with both claiming they are the legitimate first-choice contenders for any seat.
Until a few weeks ago, PKR was the main opposition party that was seen as being able to topple BN’s Maximus Ongkili from his parliamentary seat in Kota Marudu where he is considered an interloper as his family is from Tambunan.
Support for popular local-born Anthony Mandiau, a PKR candidate in the 12th general election, was rising even though he was defeated by Ongkili. The writing was on the wall when he polled a creditable 7,830 votes against the winner’s 12,028.
Mandiau did the same in 2004 as an independent candidate polling 7,268 votes against Ongkili’s 10,457.
However, with the entry of former United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) veteran leaders Wilfred Bumburing and Senator Maijol Mahap who quit their party and the ruling coalition to enter the fray, Mandiau may not get the chance to test the third-time-lucky game plan.
Things were looking up for him when Mahap, the former Upko vice-president, quit BN to throw his support for Pakatan Rakyat.
“The number of PKR supporters has increased close to 10,000 now compared to just 13 members when I joined the party in 2007,” Mandiau told delegates of the divisional party’s congress in Kota Marudu last week.
However, the jump in the number of overt supporters is making him sweat rather than smile.
“It now seems that my friend [Mahap] has his own plans. He quit BN so that he can contest in the coming election on a Pakatan ticket.
“When I joined PKR in 2007, Upko leaders including Mahap laughed at me… they were telling the people of Kota Marudu that my move was wrong as I was joining a political party that had no following. Now they want to join us,” he told the congress.
‘Newcomers’ stoking anger
Mandiau, a two-time opposition candidate, views (Mahap’s) move as unprincipled in the light of the newcomers’ attempts to commandeer the process of nominating opposition candidates for various seats in the state.
Mahap has joined Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) headed by Bumburing, who is Tuaran MP.
Bumburing has declared support for Pakatan and seems intent on stamping his mark on the question of candidacy.
Mandiau disclosed that Bumburing was accompanied by Mahap and former senator Kalakau Untol last week to a gathering of PKR supporters in Kampung Marak Parak, a remote village in the Kota Marudu district.
“It was during this gathering that the APS leader announced that Mahap will be the Pakatan candidate for the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat, contesting on a PKR ticket.
“What is this? This is clear that Mahap resigned from Upko so that he can contest, which he would not have been able to do if he is still in BN,” Mandiau said.
He said he was only informed by Mahap about the function three hours before it began at 2pm and he was unable to attend.
But said that he was with the senator the day before and there was no mention about the next day’s gathering.
“I am the Kota Marudu PKR head but was sidelined. This should not have happened,” he said, adding that PKR leaders in the division are not happy about the new developments following APS’ entry into the district.
He also told the congress that due to APU’s move and activities in promoting Mahap as the candidate, former MP George Sangkin and about 1,000 supporters had left PKR.
But Sangkin had promised support if he (Mandiau) is the candidate.
PKR leaders must listen to people
Mandiau believes the same battle for seats is happening in other constituencies where those who left BN to join APS and Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) headed by Beaufort MP Lajim Ukin are expecting to be rewarded for the switch in allegiance.
There is a tacit understanding that APS would help Pakatan in non-Muslim Bumiputera areas while Muslim constituencies would be looked after by PPS.
The understanding also includes a carte blanche to the leaders of the two organisations to contest where they please using any of the opposition’s component parties – PKR, PAS, DAP – as their platform.
However, this has not gone down well with many opposition supporters.
Mandiau pointed out for the opposition to win, party leaders must listen to the voice of the majority and “not just a handful who have just jumped ship into the Pakatan stable”.
He said a disunited opposition would be to the advantage of the BN.
Mahap contested for BN against PBS-opposition Ongkili in the 1999 general election but lost, obtaining 6,781 votes against Ongkili’s 8,465.
The coming election will potentially also see opposition candidates fielded by the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and State Reform Party (STAR), further splintering the vote.
Ongkili unperturbed
Tandak SAPP vice-chairman John Mitah Mikat said the latest developments are an indication of the failure by PKR to unite the people of Sabah in support of the opposition coalition in facing the 13th general election.
Ongkili himself does not look like a man under pressure. He has been boasting that his Kota Marudu parliamentary seat and its two state seats of Matunggong and Tandek are safe seats for BN.
The three seats have always been PBS strongholds since 1985 and the party’s candidates have always won the seats even when it was in the opposition. Before being elected as an MP, Ongkili had also served as Tandek assemblyman.
Ongkili, the PBS deputy president, won the seat in 1995 and 1999 elections when the party headed by his uncle Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the current Sabah BN deputy chief minister, was still in the opposition.
The federal Science, Technology and Innovation Minister went on to win the seats again in 2004 and 2008 general elections on a BN ticket. PBS pulled out from BN in 1990 and rejoined in 2002.
Pembahagian kerusi harus dilaksanakan dengan adil.
ReplyDeletelets just wait for the PRU13...
ReplyDelete"He said a disunited opposition would be to the advantage of the BN."
ReplyDeleteit is very obvious, this 'web of confusion' created by the opposition is a clear result of their disunity...how long can the rakyat withstand this?
the opposition shows no strong foundations in kota marudu. it is very unlikely that they will win in kota marudu...crippled at the very early stages...
ReplyDeletekota marudu has had always been a PBS stronghold even when in the opposition. BN through PBS have always been the choice of the people of kota marudu...
ReplyDeleteTidak boleh biarkan PR cuba untuk menguasai PEmbangkang di Sabah ini.
ReplyDeleteBaguslah kalau Anwar tidak dapat menghasut Pembangkang tempatan Sabah untuk bersama. Kerana ini satu kerugian kepada pembangkang tempatan nanti jika memberikan peluang kepada PR untuk mengambil kerusi di Sabah.
ReplyDeleteKerajaan BN jangan leka dengan apa yang mereka ada sekarang ini. Kerana jika tidak pasti akan memberikan yang buruk kepada BN nanti.
ReplyDeleteTambahan lagi sekarang ini kita dapat lihat cara pembangkang untuk menjatuhkan KErajaan dengan memberikan pelbagai tipu fitnah dan khabar angin mengenai keburukkan kerajaan. Jadi cuba untuk menepis semua khabar angin tersebut.
ReplyDeleteAnwar tidak patut disokong. Pembangkang tempatan perlu memikirkan masa hadapan rakyat Sabah juga jika Sabah dibawah PR. Itu satu perkara yang tidak patut berlaku.
ReplyDeleteSusah pembangkang mahu kalahkan BN/umno. Tak percaya lihat sajalah nanti.
ReplyDeleteObviously BN will remain as the govt. The oppositions are building castle in the air. They need to be realistic.
DeleteRakyat tidak patut terpedaya dengan gimik yang dilakukan oleh pembangkan. Peluang kita jarang datang so jangan sia-siakan 'undi' kita.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to a strong party. Not those partoes that know to talk only but have no solution in achieving or fulfilling their promises.
ReplyDeleteBN is not in the least shaken by the departure of certain leaders to the opposition, with the latest being former federal Deputy Minister, Datuk Yahya Lampong and corporate figure, Tan Sri Ibrahim Menudin.
ReplyDeleteChief Minister and Sabah BN chairman, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman categorically stated that the people are strongly behind BN in the state and their support is unwavering.
ReplyDeleteDatuk Musa Aman said whatever it is, BN Sabah remain strong and united. The point is that Sabah BN will face the general election in high spirits to ensure major victory for BN not just in Sabah but all over the country.
ReplyDeleteCM said the continuous attacks by the opposition on BN Sabah and its leaders have not weakened the coalition at all, as all the leaders of the respective component parties remained united and were working together which has reinforced its strength
ReplyDeleteCM said rakyat should instead, look back and see how badly, states ruled by the opposition have fared
Deletepembangkang2 di Sabah mmg tidak sefahaman. masing2 ego dan pentingkan diri.
ReplyDeletemereka sukar nak bekerjasama dan perpecahan pembangkang hnya memberi kelebihan kepada BN.
ReplyDeleteThe opposition’s ambitious promises, which include reduction of tax and fuel prices, abolition of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) and provision of free higher education, could well cost almost RM200 billion to fulfill, and bankrupt the nation. Since the 2008 general election, it has also promised to take over the highway concessions and abolish tolls, increase Sabah and Sarawak’s oil royalty by 20 per cent, reduce import tax on cars and provide cash assistance to ensure a minimum household income of RM4,000. Many may still recall the pre-2008 general election debate between the then Information Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, where the latter promised a reduction in fuel price immediately should the opposition form the federal government.On the other hand, the current government continues with its various initiatives to ease the people’s burden without jeopardising the country’s finances. Since Sept 1, 2009, the sale of RON92 petrol was discontinued and the price of RON97 was streamlined to the market rate of RM2.70 per litre, while RON95 was subsidised to be RM1.90 per litre.
ReplyDeleteThis year, the government is also expected to spend RM18.92 billion in petroleum and related fuel subsidies, an increase of RM1.92 billion from last year. The opposition has also asked Khazanah Berhad, the Employees Provident Fund and other government-linked companies to acquire highway concessions in order to abolish toll.The resulting cost of such a move could be anywhere between RM50 billion and RM100 billion, equivalent to about 6.4 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, which could have a big impact on its finances.Whereas, the government is currently restructuring PLUS Berhad to ensure the status quo for toll rates at four highways for the next five years, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.Quoting Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Anwar was reported to have promised to increase Sabah and Sarawak’s oil royalty from five per cent to 20 per cent, and not to be outdone, others such as Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan have promised up to 50 per cent.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the sweetest opposition promise of all is the minimum pay of RM4,000 for both the public and private sectors. This would surely involve a huge amount of funds to implement considering just the civil service staff of 1.2 million. And would the private sector be able to afford such a sum considering their profit margins?The Head of Research and Economics and Finance Cluster of the National Council of Professors (MPN) Prof Dr Shazali Abu Mansor was reported as saying such opposition moves were estimated at RM200 billion per annum and would only lead to an increase in taxes and external loans.“The government would be burdened with as much as RM43 billion if the loans are not repaid. There are three governments, including Norway’s, which provide free education but the taxes imposed on the people are high. Do we really want to burden the people by abolishing PTPTN loans? Surely, we don’t want that,” said Najib at a function in Johor.The same goes for the opposition’s proposal to reduce excise duties on cars, which would only reduce the nation’s coffers by about RM7 billion and detract from government facilities to the people.Meanwhile, BN and Federal Territory Umno Liaison secretary Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee said such promises could cause the country to go bankrupt and spike the unemployment rate. It’s not reasonable to make such rash promises without considering long-term consequences. Bayan Baru independent member of parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the opposition can promise what they like but the issue is whether they can deliver the same.He warned that people who fell for such promises would be taking a very big risk which they would later regret.
ReplyDeleteBarisan pembangkang di Sabah bergerak ke arah perpaduan, akan tetapi gabungan pemerintah Barisan Nasional (BN) kelihatan masih berada di hadapan dalam pilihan raya umum (PRU) ke-13..
ReplyDeleteWalaupun momentum dapat diperolehi dari beberapa pembelotan kebelakangan ini, pembangkang di Sabah masih perlu bekerja keras dan mengelakkan pertandingan tiga penjuru dalam pilihan raya akan datang.
ReplyDeleteSabah World Heritage
Borneo Bullet
Terdapat pelbagai parti pembangkang di Sabah termasuk Parti Pembaharuan Negeri (STAR), Parti Progressif Sabah (SAPP), Pakatan Rakyat (PR) baru-baru ini menambah sekutu — Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) dan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) yang baru ditibuhkan.. bolehkah mereka bersatu?
ReplyDeletejangan salahkan rakyat atau parti lawan jika pembangkang masih gagal merampas kerajaan pada PRU13 nanti.. salahkan ketua parti sendiri kerana bersikap tamak..
ReplyDeletesepatutnya pembangkang mengambil iktibar dari kekalahan parti2 pembangkang di Batu Sapi.. bagaimana calon paling popular pembangkang boleh tewas kepada seorang suri rumah?
ReplyDelete