SAPP to Raymond: Let the people be the judge

KOTA KINABALU, June 28, 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has reiterated its acceptance of the challenge from Parti Gerakan National Vice President Datuk Raymond Tan for re-contesting of all its four seats i.e. two state seats (Likas and Luyang) and two Parliamentary seats (Sepanggar and Tawau).

Reiterating the challenge on-behalf of the four SAPP Elected Representatives (YBs) namely the MPs for Sepangar and Tawau, Datuk Eric Majimbun and Datuk Chua Soon Bui, the State Assemblyman for Likas Datuk Liew Teck Chan and Luyang Assemblywoman Melanie Chia, was SAPP Information Chief Chong Pit Fah in a statement issued here yesterday.

He was responding to a statement by Tan who is also the State Industrial Development Minister cum Tanjung Papat State Assemblyman, that the four SAPP YBs should resign and re-contest because they won their respective seats under the BN symbol.

Chong however reminded Tan to first get the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to amend the election law, to allow incumbent Elected Representatives to re-contest if they resign.

This is because the present election law forbids an Elected Representative to contest for five years if he or she resigned.

Chong who is also SAPP Kepayan CLC Chairman said the re-contest would also once and for all resolve the so-called issue of 'moral standing' cited by Tan earlier, to find out who will the people support eventually.

"There is no use of issuing challenges in the media. Let's face off and let the electorates be the judge," he challenged.

He also reiterated SAPP's stand earlier that both Tan and his party colleague, Au Kam Wah who is currently the Elopura State Assemblyman cum Chairman of Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC) should resign and to re-contest their seats.

Chong said this was because it is a public knowledge that both of them resigned from SAPP and later joined Gerakan for selfish agenda and interest, rather than for the people's interest as what they have been claiming all the while.

He thus doubted both Tan and Au would ever vacate their seats for fear of losing their current positions and all the perks and privileges that come with them, should they lose in the contest.

He further quipped that Tan had even failed to honour his words when he (Tan) announced during his last meeting with SAPP Supreme Council last year that, he would resign as both the Deputy Chief Minister and Infrastructure Development Minister within 24 hours if SAPP pulls out of the BN coalition.

Chong also took a swipe at Tan for proclaiming that Parti Gerakan will contest all the four State and two Parliament seats in the event of by elections, describing it as a blatant display of sheer arrogance.

"Would the other BN component members agree to this," he asked.

Besides this, Chong also called on Tan to better explain what he meant when said in his earlier statement that "SAPP should emulate Datuk Anwar Ibrahim".