SAPP welcomes Azmin's call for One to One contest against BN in
next polls
 Kota Kinabalu, June 19, 2009:
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president, Datuk Yong Teck Lee today
said that SAPP is positive about talks with PKR
on preparations for the next general elections.
"The most sensible
part of the election preparations is to agree that the election
should be a one to one contest against the might of the BN machinery
because we must not underestimate the will power of the BN and UMNO
to stay in power at all costs and using all tricks" added Yong.
This was
conveyed by Yong during a lunch meeting with PKR State liaison Chairman for
Sabah, YB Azmin Ali, this afternoon together with Deputy President
Datuk Eric Majimbun from SAPP.
"Therefore, the SAPP Supreme Council at its meeting on June 13 has
identified three main challenges to an opposition victory:
(a) Money politics whereby the BN has overwhelming advantage in all
constituencies,
(b) Illegal immigrants voters,
(c) The use of phantom votes and postal ballots in marginal
constituencies whereby votes have been cast in the names of non
existent voters, such as the examples shown in the election petition
trial of Sandakan MP last year.
"Other relevant concerns are the lack of a common platform on both
national and Sabah issues among Pakatan parties and SAPP such as
autonomy for Sabah, the PAS-UMNO unity talks, the vastly divergent
ideologies of PAS and DAP on nation building issues and the PAS
claim to the Prime Ministership.
"On the positive side, the BN is fast losing support among the
people over a range of issues such as the economy and economic
mismanagement, crime and social problems, racial polarization and
religious bigotry and a general lack of direction at the top of the
nation's leadership.
"The 1 Malaysia concept has failed to catch the
people's imagination and instead became the butt of jokes among the
people. Past excesses of the BN administration is catching up with
the current government such as the collapse of the Terengganu
stadium and other building failures, the Port Klang Free Zone
scandal, the Perak fiasco and falling education standards.
"In Sabah, the failure to resolve the Queen Elizabeth hospital
crisis, the controversial coal power plant proposal, the piping of
our natural gas to Petronas's Bintulu Liquefied Natural Gas plant,
escalating costs of living, poverty, illegal immigrants problems
beset the people.
"The Labuan Bridge proposal is at a dead end
whereas Johore is getting a third bridge and Penang a second bridge.
Both the relaxation of the cabotage policy and the announcement of
RM245 million to buy the Sabah Medical Centre turned out to be mere
public relations exercise without any real benefits to the people,"
stressed Yong. |
