SAPP: People have a right to know

Kota Kinabalu, Jan 8, 2010: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Secretary-General Datuk Richard Yong We Kong, questioned why cabinet minister Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai, assistant minister Datuk Herbert Timbon Lagadan, deputy speaker Datuk Johnny Mositun and Kapitan cum PKR Chin Tek Ming all harped on the SAS issue on and off for years while Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman called the SAS fiasco a petty issue and not to waste time on it in the newspapers today.

"Then why did his cabinet minister Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai, Does this mean that the PBS leaders have been wasting time on this "petty issue"? In the PBS hierarchy, Yee is no less than a Deputy President, Herbert a Vice President, Johnny Mositun the Publicity Chief and Chin is a supreme councilor.

"On June 25, 2007, Chin Tek Ming even alleged that Datuk Yong Teck Lee, SAPP President) was the Chairman of SAS! This blatant lie led to the police report of June 26, 2007. He again made defamatory remarks in 2008 and April 28, 2009.

"Do these PBS leaders, Yee, Herbert, Mositun and Chin agree with their Chief Minister that the SAS fiasco is a petty issue? If yes, then it means that they have misled the people, embarrassed the SAS board and management, defamed others and caused unnecessary anxiety among SAS investors. These PBS leaders owe an apology to a lot of people.

"However, if they do not believe that the SAS fiasco is a petty issue, then these PBS leaders have a duty to convince the Chief Minister to publish a white paper on the SAS fiasco. The PBS leaders cannot pretend that nothing has happened. They cannot now hide behind the Chief Minister's declaration that the SAS fiasco is a petty issue.

"When the SAS was launched on 23 June 1994, the then Deputy Prime Minster cum Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had assured that there would be no political interference in the management of SAS. This was reported in the local newspapers of June 24, 1994.

"As evident in the annual reports available to the public, the SAS board consisted of professionals and civil servants. There was an investment committee with professional advisors. Were they subjected to the political interference of any of the past Chief Ministers, including Datuk Yong Teck Lee? Were there other factors that made the SAS value drop? If there were wrong doers, as suggested by PBS leaders, then have any actions been taken against them? The public have a right to know the answers to these questions.

"If the PBS leaders in the government do not pursue to convince the State Government to get to the bottom of the SAS issue, it is proven that PBS leaders' sole intention is to make use of SAS issue to hurl political attack on Datuk Yong Teck Lee. They have no interest in the justice for the investors. SAS is merely a tool in their untiring attempt to discredit Datuk Yong Teck Lee. Their political vendetta and conspiracy ran so deep that this group of politicians had left out all the major issues affecting Sabah and the people," Richard said.