Gerakan last option for Raymond : SAPP
KOTA KINABALU, Apr
28, 2009 : The LDP Supreme Council's unanimous decision to call
for the sacking of partyless Datuk Raymond Tan as Deputy Chief
Minister has called into questions not just Raymond's position but
also the Chief Minister's prerogative, said SAPP Information Chief Chong Pit Fah .
Since LDP has deemed Raymond's position as unethical and detrimental
to the effectiveness of the BN Government, there is no room for any
more delay in an end to the Raymond Tan saga. Other than sacking
Raymond, which the Chief Ministers refuses to do, the BN can declare
the Sabah State Government as "BN plus Independents" like in Perak
State, said Chong.
He added the last option for Raymond is to join Party Gerakan, the
only BN component party that is willing to accept him. This would be
a quick, inexpensive short cut to preserve his much coveted DCM post
and frustrate the moves of LDP, PBS and MCA to dislodge him from the
Cabinet, thereby saving the face of the Chief Minister.
Chong said that Raymond had claimed that he won his Tanjong Papat
State seat under BN ticket. This is his only reasons for "being
loyal in BN" in spite of this brave proclamation at this last
meeting as SAPP Supreme Councillor in September last year that he
would "resign his DCM post within 24 hours of SAPP being out of the
BN".
"Seven months later, he is stubbornly and shamelessly clinging on to
his post. Unlike the Legislative Assembly which is a multi-party
body with opposition and independent members, the Cabinet is made up
of only ruling Party members.
"Raymond should now realize it the hard way that without SAPP, he
would not have been both an Assemblyman and DCM. This is the whole
basis of BN component parties calling for his resignation. Raymond
might love the BN but the BN does not love him. He has overstayed
his welcome as a "BN Independent," said Chong.
"Once Raymond joins another Party, it means he admits that his
position depends on his Party status and not being merely "BN
independent". Otherwise, there is no need for Raymond to join
another Party," he added. |
