'Start with DAP's two seats first'

Source : Daily Express 19/05/2010

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has no intention to vacate its seats to trigger by-elections in order to gain temporary allocations, carrots and sweets from the present Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

"In fact, SAPP is committed to fight for the rights and Sabah's development by way of gaining more autonomy so that we could cause a bigger, more meaningful and realistic change to the political landscape of Sabah," said its Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah, Tuesday.

He said there were much larger issues such as the loss of Block L and Block M oil fields concerning the sovereignty of the State, the deteriorating medical services, the threatening presence of a large population of illegal immigrants, land grabs, inflation, youth unemployment and piping away of the State's oil and gas, among others.

He said SAPP representatives in the State Assembly and Parliament would continue to raise any issue pertaining to Sabah and the people's interest.

"SAPP will not be distracted from its work with the challenge of Dr Edwin Bosi of Sabah DAP, whatever his real motive is," said Chong.

He was responding to Edwin's suggestion that SAPP relinquish all its seats to pave the way for by-elections so that instant development and funding could come immediately to their areas from the BN government.

Edwin said it had become a BN government trend to pump in a lot of cash and instant development to constituencies having a by-election such as the one in Hulu Selangor and Sibu.

Chong said in case Edwin was ignorant, Article 17 (5) of the Sabah Constitution provides that an elected member who resigns his membership of the legislative assembly shall be disqualified from contesting for five years from the date of resignation.

"However, if DAP wants to go on with their idea of resigning to cause by-elections and wish to vacate the Kota Kinabalu Parliament seat and Sri Tanjung State seat, it is really up to them," he said.

Sabah DAP's call for SAPP to relinquish its seats was the latest after several BN component parties, including Sepanggar Umno Chief, Jumat Idris, who challenged Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Majimbun to vacate his seat for a fresh election.

"It seems these Kuala Lumpur-based parties are trying to belittle SAPP with these challenges.

My message is don't belittle SAPP's capabilities as a local-based party," said Chong.