SAPP to Tan: Stop being evasive and face us like a man!

KOTA KINABALU, July 1, 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has called on its turncoat leader cum Parti Gerakan National Vice President, Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah to stop being evasive but to accept its counter challenge to re-contest the two state seats currently held by him and his Party colleague, Au Kam Wah, besides the four seats currently held by SAPP Elected Representatives (YBs).

In a statement issued in Sandakan today, SAPP Vice President, Poon Kee Yang emphatically pointed out that, this was only appropriate and honorable since Tan had earlier cited moral standing in urging the four SAPP YBs namely Datuk Eric Majimbun (MP for Sepanggar), Datuk Chua Soon Bui (MP for Tawau), Datuk Liew Teck Chan (Likas) and Melanie Chia (Luyang) to resign and re-contest their seats.

Poon further explained that this was also in view of the fact that both Tan and Au were elected in the last general election under SAPP's quota. Tan was subsequently appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister cum Infrastructure Development Minister while Au was appointed as the Chairman for Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC), also under the quota of SAPP.

"However, in order to keep their positions in the government, both Tan and Au decided to remain in the Barisan Nasional (BN) when the SAPP decided to opt out from the coalition, as a form of protest to the BN government's unfair treatment of Sabah .

"Despite being partyless, they managed to keep their posts as an independent YB for six months. But when the much-publicised plan of forming a new political party did not materialise, and coupled with mounting pressure from the other BN component parties for them to step down, they have no choice but to join Parti Gerakan in May this year.

"But, it's a pity that not only Datuk Raymond Tan failed to keep his coveted Deputy Chief Minister's post, he was also re-assigned to the Industrial Development Ministry, which many consider a demotion," Poon elaborated.

He however doubted very much that Tan's challenge to re-contest would ever get the blessing and consent of his Party boss, Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon who till to-date has been conspicuously silent on the matter.

Poon quipped that Koh's silence was understandable in view of the high risk and stake involved, which Gerakan obviously could not afford.

"Parti Gerakan just can't afford to face another defeat at this point of time when it is still struggling very hard to recover and to rebuild itself from the humiliating and devastating outcome of the last general election, where it was literally uprooted from its base in Penang ," said Poon.

He was also convinced that the people of Sandakan, the voters of Tanjung Papat especially are the discerning type and would not hesitate to reject those leaders who they knew for a fact were working for their own interests and agendas.

He thus quipped that Tan's recent challenge to SAPP to re-contest was probably a big mistake made in an impulse.

Poon also took Tan to task over his recent statement claiming that he (Poon) had never voiced any objection nor took part in any gathering to protest against the proposed sitting of the coal-fired power plant project in Sandakan .

He categorically highlighted that he was among those who were present in the news conference organised by SAPP at its Headquarters in Bornion Centre, Luyang here on 7 October, last year, urging the State Government to stop forcing the controversial project down the throat of the Sandakan folks.

This was followed by the handing over of the memorandum against the said project by Steven Wong, Chairman of the Sandakan Anti Coal-fired Power Plant Committee to SAPP President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, at the swearing-in ceremony of the office bearers for the Sandakan Hakka Association, which Yong officiated. Poon recalled that in his speech, Yong also strongly criticized both the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), for trying to bulldoze through the project.

And subsequently on 14 February this year, Poon also took part in the peaceful demonstration against the said project, held at the proposed site in Seguntur, a peaceful protest by local people and led by Yong. Also present at the occasion to lend their moral support were, local community leaders like President of the United Sabah and F.T. Labuan Hakka Association, Datuk Thien Fook En, Datuk Nahalan Damsal and Datuk Alban Sandukong, among others.

"All these events were reported in the newspapers and if Datuk Raymond Tan still insist on saying that I was never concern about the issue and never took part in any gathering to protest against the project, then perhaps all I can say is that he should go and have his eyes checked," said Poon.

He thus accused Tan of trying to mislead the people of Sandakan to cause resentment against him (Poon).

He also categorically maintained that he was not wrong to accuse Tan of trying to claim credit recently when the latter remarked that "the Government should heed the people's objection and cancel the coal-fired power plant project", which was reported in a local Chinese newspapers.

Poon contended that Tan should not blame anyone including him for having such a perception, especially when all these while he (Tan) had been keeping quiet about the issue, even at the height of the public protest against the project.

"And the worst part was, he (Tan) was not only the YB for Tanjung Papat but also the Deputy Chief Minister cum Infrastructure Development Minister whose jurisdiction also covers the coal-fired power plant project," Poon pointed out.

He was nonetheless convinced that the people of Sandakan are wise enough not to be easily hookwinked by Tan's attempt to claim credit as, they realized that the Government had to cancel the said project amidst strong public objection as it can't afford to incur the wrath of the people and to lose in the next election.