‘No invite’ to state Merdeka celebration, says Sabah PPBM

John Ambrose, head of Penampang PPBM.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PPBM leaders, saying they never received invitations to the state-level National Day celebration here, have denied they deliberately chose not to attend.

Sabah PPBM deputy chief Masidi Manjun confirmed to FMT that no invitations were received for taking part in yesterday’s event. “When I checked with the rest of my PPBM colleagues, they too have not received theirs,” he said. “If there was an invitation we are yet to get it.”

He suggesed that there could have been “a miscommunication along the line”.

Sabah PPBM’s absence at the event was raised in a local report quoting Merdeka celebrations chairman Peter Anthony which had said PPBM leaders were also absent from a Hari Raya event in June. The report questioned the commitment of Sabah PPBM, which consists of former Sabah Umno leaders, to cooperation with the Warisan-led state government.

However, Penampang PPBM division chief, Senator John Ambrose, asked “why is this now made into a political issue?” and said Sabah PPBM was sincere about working together with the state government.

“We in Pakatan Harapan should complement each other. Although Warisan is not but they are friends of PH,” Ambrose said.

He said: “If I received an invitation (to the state-level celebration) I would have definitely come.” He did not receive an invitation and to the best of his knowledge the other state PPBM elected representatives also didn’t get one.

“To suggest that we ignored the invitations is not good and done with bad intentions because there were no invitations to begin with,” he told FMT.

The report quoted Anthony as saying invitations were sent to many including member of PH component parties. “I saw some of them (invitees) were there. So if we don’t see the rest (including) those from parties, then maybe they already had a packed schedule.”

Ambrose said: “Maybe there were invitations but probably they were not sent out or sent last minute … I don’t know. In any case, they should check the facts first before making a statement that’s not good for both sides.”

“Why is this now made into a political issue?” he said. - FMT