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". |
The
nation called Malaysia was born on 16 September, 1963. This is a
historical fact. It cannot be disputed. I remember it very well. I was
already 25 years old at the time. I also remember the day when Malaya
gained independence on 31 August 1957. 1957 was the year I left school.
It was the year I sat for my Cambridge Oversea School Certificate – only
a handful of us. In school my teacher used to discuss with students the
possible merger of North Borneo (as Sabah was then known) Sarawak and
Brunei, all British Colonies. Malaya was never mentioned...
Oct 28,
SAPP received 526 new membership
applications. 
