SAPP quits PN, party
president confirms
The Sabah Progressive Party says it does not agree with Perikatan Nasional’s intention to contest the upcoming state election.
SAPP president Yong Teck Lee said the decision was made during the party’s supreme council meeting on Nov 23. He said PN was officially informed of the decision last month.
According to Yong, PN’s decision to contest the upcoming Sabah state election conflicted with SAPP’s long-standing policy, which calls for all 73 state constituencies to be contested solely by local parties.
“Our position aligns with the principles of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the pursuit of greater autonomy for Sabah,” he said in a statement today.
“We cannot compromise on our commitment to ensuring that the Sabah legislative assembly elections are exclusively managed by local parties, free from the interference of parties based in Malaya.”
SAPP joined PN in August 2020, several months after the formal formation of the coalition by PAS and Bersatu.
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, now part of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, was also a PN component but left the Muhyiddin Yassin-led coalition in December 2022 following the formation of the unity government at the federal level.
PN is now left with four political parties – Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party.
SAPP was previously urged by Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee and GRS secretary-general Masidi Manjun to choose between staying in PN or GRS.
“SAPP remains fully committed to GRS – the only coalition consisting entirely of local parties – prioritising Sabah’s autonomy and self-determination,” Yong said.
Clarify election strategy, GRS told
While SAPP has proposed that GRS contest all 73 state seats to uphold Sabah’s rights under MA63, Yong said the ruling coalition’s supreme council should clarify the status of its potential collaboration with Pakatan Harapan before the new year.
“Sabah voters deserve transparency to make informed decisions about their political future,” he said.
He also criticised PH and Barisan Nasional, claiming that key decisions for Sabah continue to be made by their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, sidelining local voices.
“As we have seen, PH and BN have strengthened their alliance, regardless of GRS’s goodwill toward PH,” he said.
Yong Teck Lee amd SAPP are totally untrustworthy opportunists.
ReplyDeleteI won't be surprised if they reappear in the Madani Government.