Paid to write Hatred

By Amdee Sidik

When we talk about SAPP it isn't all about Yong Teck Lee alone; but it involves the entire organisation, Joe Fernandez should learn how to write like an adult instead of spraying it like bullets all over the place.

Let me just briefly respond to him, I'm referring to his article 'Party dogged by irrelevance' appeared in FMT18/01/2012.

What gradgrind has he with Yong Teck Lee I wouldn't know, I'm just confining to something I knew.

This material isn't organised to answer item by item of Fernandez' allegations, and readers are cautioned Fernandez isn't new writing like he did, Malaysiakini paid a hefty amount due to his malicious writing which led to his sacking not so long ago. Therefore, it doesn't require rebuttal but suffice to say he does have problem in understanding others.

SAPP has been consistently bringing up issues of unfair treatment by the federal government to Sabah, among the highlights, we asked for Royal Commission of Inquiry of Illegal Immigrants in Sabah, we asked for the increase of Petroleum royalty, we asked for change of cabotage policy and many more. Its SAPP which brought these issues up, later picked up by others, even by BN component parties-no other political parties as energetic as SAPP in Sabah, but what is seen today very many of our leaders from other political parties, out of jealousy are dwarfing SAPP leaders' ability.

Unfair treatment by the federal government to the States of Sabah continues to exist in many shapes and forms, for example, a new Mykad holders originally not Sabahans are treated by the government of the day far better than the natives of Sabah. Compare those live in urban areas with those live in the interior, new Sabahans get accessed to facilities, like medical services by virtue they're living in city or towns but less or not at all in some parts of rural areas.

Batu Sapi by-election was the yardstick to measure of the failure of SAPP according to Joe Fernandez, if he can be analytical enough in looking for faults I would think he could also capable to strike the balance of fair reporting

Population of Sabah voters in Batu Sapi is very much different compare with other areas in Sabah namely in the West Coast and Interior.

Illegal immigrants and those obtained Mykad under project UMNO are the fixed deposit of UMNO and the MyKad is the key. The UMNO politicians would just say this..vote opposition we'll take back the MyKad; and that would be enough to torture them with sleepless nights.

I found a 58-year lady Sabahan hasn't yet got a Mykad to date in Sipitang,whilst the new arrivals got as easy as buying pisang goreng. No Sabahans would want to be robbed their statehood arbitrarily yet it happened.

As one of the leaders in SAPP, though rather new both in the party and in politics I wouldn't like to hear cheap accusation by a disparate writer whose writing is but malicious in nature-I can only think he is also seen willing to being prostitute used by someone to defame others.

SAPP's friendly approach towards its fellow local opposition political parties including PR, is well intended, the very idea is to topple BN-UMNO, if only all oppositions can solidify among themselves there would be a greater chance of getting rid of UMNO, any disagreements should be best kept aside and sort out later.

SAPP has many new leaders who now play important roles in shaping the party. Many new ideas have been injected to the party to make it very relevant today in contrary to what Fernandez said.

One such idea, which is lauded by SAPP, is Malaysia should have gone away with communal or racial politics mentality led by UMNO. Sabahans by far is more tolerance when come to deal with race and religion; we don't need to exhume the dead just because some are confused about his religious belief.

Decision for the party isn't entirely from the President, in my experience with the party ever since I joined three years ago, no single person dominates party decision-making. Thus Fernandez shouldn't shut his mind if he were to understand better about Sabahans' culture.

Looking at the current mood all over the world, the Federal government can't afford not to heed to people's want; they (the government of the day) can be as stubborn as can be, but if the price doesn't come soon it will be later.

Fernandez thought highly of DAP, let me say this DAP is born in urban areas with urban make up, they have zero agenda for kampongs, their struggle isn't designed for rural people, little do they know what Sabah rural's dreams, therefore no need to be rhetoric about it.

Its ability in Sabah has a ceiling and is still a long way to form Sabah State government by its entirety, unlike SAPP a local and non-communal political party.

Let others be the judge.

Amdee Sidik is Deputy President of SAPP, Chairman of Citizen Journalist Malaysia.