Sabah continues to be side-lined!

SAPP says the majority of the PSC members are from the Peninsula who would not understand the true situation in Sabah and Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has criticised the make-up of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reforms, saying that Sabah continues to be side-lined.

SAPP deputy president Eric Majimbum said that although Maximus Ongkili, a Sabahan, is the chairman of the PSC, his position as a cabinet minister would be jeopardised and he would have to toe the government line.

"Ongkili (the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister) will jeopardise (his post) if he voices out his opinions (not in line with the government).

"Therefore, we want another Sabah representative for the PSC who is not from the Cabinet," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Majimbum, who is also Sepanggar MP, said that SAPP had written to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia asking for another Sabahan representative but the request was not entertained.

When asked who would fit the bill as a representative from Sabah, Majimbum said, "We have volunteered our services and it is a genuine offer."

The nine-member PSC held its first meeting this morning. The other four members from BN are Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB-Kapit), Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Umno-Kangar), Fong Chan Onn (MCA-Alor Gajah) and P Kamalanathan (MIC-Hulu Selangor).

The three Pakatan representatives are Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak), Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) and Anthony Loke (DAP-Rasah). The sole independent seat in the committee is occupied by Wangsa Maju MP, Wee Choo Keong.

'Sabah always sidelined'

Majimbum said that besides Linggi – a Sarawakian – the rest of the MPs who are from the Peninsula would not truly understand the situation in Sabah and Sarawak.

SAPP has constantly raised up matters on illegal immigrants who were allegedly given voting rights in Sabah.

Tawau MP Chua Soon Bui, who was also present, again highlighted "Project IC" under which many illegal immigrants were awarded Malaysian identity cards.

She cited a case in her constituency where the electoral roll has not been updated.

"I have 666 voters above the age of 90 and the oldest is of 124 . The Election Committee needs to look into this as the electoral roll needs to be refreshed," she said.

"Although Sabah has always been a fixed deposit for Barisan National, the state has also always been sidelined," she said.

Majimbum and Chua said if the government was truly sincere in implementing electoral reforms, a bipartisan representative from Sabah needs to be included in the PSC.