'Sabah BN leaders are weaklings'
Published: May 6, 2009 2:50 AM | Updated: May 6, 2009 8:46 AM
Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) is powerless in making decisions on issues that affect the state, and depend on federal leaders to resolve problems, claimed a leader of former component party Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp).
Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) is powerless in making decisions on issues that affect the state, and depend on federal leaders to resolve problems, claimed a leader of former component party Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp).
Information chief Chong Pit Fah (right) said this shows that Sabah BN leaders have no autonomy and that the chief minister’s powers are also eroding.
Chong was responding to the announcement yesterday that former Sapp members Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah (Elopura state assemblyperson) have joined the peninsula-based Gerakan after being partyless since last September.
Tan, the state assemblyperson for Tanjong Papat, is also deputy chief minister and the state infrastructure development minister.
In a statement, Chong said their decision has brought shame on Sabah especially with the announcement being made during a visit to the state by premier and BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak and Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.
“No wonder Sabah BN leaders are unable to resolve matters that are important to the basic needs of the people,” said Chong.
Among these are issues linked to health, electricity supply, presence of undocumented immigrants, and the environment.
It is a pity, he said, that state BN leaders are placing their posts above the public interest. This has resulted in thousands of Sabahans becoming poor despite the abundance of resources that once made the state rich.
Tan explains choice
Chong further alleged that Tan had decided to join Gerakan to keep his state cabinet posts and not to take care of the interests of the people, in particular those who had voted for him when he stood on a Sapp ticket in the general election last March.
He also alleged that Gerakan is the only BN component party that has been willing to accept him.
Tan, however, has been quoted as saying: "I have chosen Gerakan because Gerakan is a safe home and it is the home that I have been looking for.”
Many Sabah BN component parties had called for him to be sacked from his posts after Sapp pulled out of the coalition on Sept 17 last year, citing loss of confidence in the government of then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Chong further said Tan has insisted that he won in Tanjong Papat on a BN ticket and, hence, there was no need for him to quit his posts, despite initially pledging to do so.
Information chief Chong Pit Fah (right) said this shows that Sabah BN leaders have no autonomy and that the chief minister’s powers are also eroding.Chong was responding to the announcement yesterday that former Sapp members Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah (Elopura state assemblyperson) have joined the peninsula-based Gerakan after being partyless since last September.
Tan, the state assemblyperson for Tanjong Papat, is also deputy chief minister and the state infrastructure development minister.
In a statement, Chong said their decision has brought shame on Sabah especially with the announcement being made during a visit to the state by premier and BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak and Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.
“No wonder Sabah BN leaders are unable to resolve matters that are important to the basic needs of the people,” said Chong.
Among these are issues linked to health, electricity supply, presence of undocumented immigrants, and the environment.It is a pity, he said, that state BN leaders are placing their posts above the public interest. This has resulted in thousands of Sabahans becoming poor despite the abundance of resources that once made the state rich.
Tan explains choice
Chong further alleged that Tan had decided to join Gerakan to keep his state cabinet posts and not to take care of the interests of the people, in particular those who had voted for him when he stood on a Sapp ticket in the general election last March.
He also alleged that Gerakan is the only BN component party that has been willing to accept him.
Tan, however, has been quoted as saying: "I have chosen Gerakan because Gerakan is a safe home and it is the home that I have been looking for.” Many Sabah BN component parties had called for him to be sacked from his posts after Sapp pulled out of the coalition on Sept 17 last year, citing loss of confidence in the government of then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Chong further said Tan has insisted that he won in Tanjong Papat on a BN ticket and, hence, there was no need for him to quit his posts, despite initially pledging to do so.
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