STAR STILL WAITING FOR SAPP

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR Chairman, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is still waiting for Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) to make its stand known on whether it would be working with those who support the Borneo Agenda in the coming 13th general election.

According to Dr Jeffrey, he will be having a lunch meeting with SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Leetomorrow and when asked if the issue would be discussed, he replied “Yes.”

“It will be discussed but I do not know if it will be the day for decisions or not. As I said we want their decision so that it would easier for us to plan. For us, we have invited everyone, therefore if there is an end to it we need to have a meeting (on seats and cooperation).

“We will call for a final UBA (United Borneo Agenda) meeting to discuss and make a decision, we do not want to leave it hanging,” he said, when met at the United Borneo Front 2nd anniversary celebration here yesterday.

Earlier this month, Dr Jeffrey, met after officiating Sabah STAR’s Wiranita movement convention, was asked to comment on Yong’s statement that the party will further discuss with Sabah STAR on several matters, including seat allocation in their intention to collaborate against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming general election.

By making public its stand, the issue of seats allocation between Sabah STAR and SAPP can be resolved, Dr Jeffrey said then.

“If they (SAPP) decide to join Pakatan then we do not have to worry about the seats allocation anymore because they will decide among them and we can plan our own strategy. We have to discuss and finalise the seats distribution but the problem at the moment is that we are not sure where is SAPP (stand).

“Are they negotiating with Pakatan or are they with the Borneo Alliance? If they decide to work with Pakatan then SAPP will be part of the Malaya Agenda as we see BN and PR as the Malaya Agenda while we see ourselves as Agenda Borneo,” he was reported as saying.

Yong said the two parties were expected to meet in two to three weeks’ time to fine tune a few collaborative ideas and added, “at this stage, I don’t think we want to close the door for discussion with any parties,” he said to reporters, when asked about the outcome of seat negotiations between SAPP and fellow oppositions in the State.

According to Dr Jeffrey, Sabah STAR and SAPP have been keeping in touch with each other as both have a common ground which is fighting for the state’s autonomy.

“Where we differ may be in approach. We want to work with Pakatan Rakyat but at a different level. We do not want them to bully us or to control us. We want to work together as equal partners not as subservient partners. “We have talked (with SAPP) about seats but we have yet to finalize (anything),” he told reporters then. (BP)