Pang's resignation a symptom of BN problems
 KOTA KINABALU, Sep 2, 2010: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has described
Datuk Peter Pang's resignation from Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as a
symptom of internal problem plaguing the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN).
Its president Datuk Yong Teck Lee was of the opinion that Pang's action is
a sign of the further aggravation of the internal conflict in the state's
ruling coalition.
Speaking to reporters after launching a book, titled "Pilihanku SAPP"
(SAPP My Choice) by Emin Madi at Taman Millennium in Lintas yesterday,
Yong said, "to put things in a right perspective, Datuk Peter Pang's
resignation is the basic cause of the political problem facing BN.
"It is only a symptom that we see today. But this symptom today has now
become very public and will further aggravate the internal conflict in BN,"
he said, adding, "so today's timing is very good. That's why we have 'Pilihanku
SAPP'.
Yong, who was asked to comment on Pang's resignation from LDP, however
denied that he was making an offer to the latter to join SAPP.
He believed Pang's resignation was not done on the spur of the moment nor
was it something that was decided within the last couple of days.
"Looking at the things since noon today, which is about six hours … so
many things have been revealed. The fact that the Prime Minister who is
already back in Seremban said Peter Pang told him that he will be joining
Gerakan means this is not a spontaneous and instantaneous thing that
happened in the last one or two days," Yong said.
He said there could have been a process of discussions leading to Pang's
announcement yesterday.
 "But personally I am not surprised by the announcement because you have
Datuk Chin Su Phin (LDP Deputy President) and others who have declared
they will not cooperate with the Chief Minister and then you have the
president who is neither here nor there and now you have Peter Pang who
decided to leave LDP, meaning he will side with the Chief Minister and not
with his own party," he said.
This shows that there is not only Peter Pang's resignation per say
(because) there are so many things happening in BN, he said, adding that
the resignation may be read in the context of what Datuk Salleh (Sabah
Umno deputy chairman) has exposed as a plot by LDP and others to topple
the Chief Minister.
"(So) this goes back to my earlier point, which is further aggravation of
the internal conflict in BN that will help to expedite the downfall of BN
Government "and therefore we have 'Pilihanku SAPP'," Yong said.
And since Sabah is considered as a BN "fixed deposit", even at the federal
level, they also lose, he said.
To the question on the vacancy in the Cabinet should Pang's resignation
from his Deputy Chief Minister post be accepted, Yong said the vacancy
would have to be filled by a member of another component, thus resulting
in intense lobbying by the various component parties including the
Peninsular-based parties.
"That would increase the friction and the tension within BN" if Peter
Pang's resignation is not accepted, that means the whole thing is a show,"
the former Chief Minister opined.
Asked if the Peninsular-based Chinese parties will take advantage of the
situation to strengthen their presence in Sabah, Yong claimed that is was
something MCA has been waiting for a long time.
Borneo Post (2/9/10) |
