Kota Kinabalu: SAPP President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee’s call for peninsula-based parties to leave the next State election to Sabah parties appears to have rubbed the Perikatan Nasional coalition, of which it is a partner, the wrong way as well.
PN Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the statement by Yong about Sabah Progressive Party’s intention to contest was made based on SAPP’s status as a member of also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) without taking into account their position at the national level.
SAPP is part of PN at the federal level, but is aligned with GRS in Sabah.
“Yong has a responsibility to explain their stance to PN in relation to his statement as SAPP President,” said Ronald.
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Yong was also reported as suggesting that engaging in talks or negotiations with non-local parties to work with them was no longer necessary.
Ronald, who is also the Bersatu Sabah Chairman, said as the coalition party that had the largest support in the Aug 12 state elections, it is the PN’s desire to strengthen its positon in other states, including Sabah.
“We would like to emphasise that no party can prevent other political parties, including PN, from participating in Sabah’s democratic process,” said Ronald, who is PN’s MP for Beluran, a Sabah constituency.
He said PN will be standing in the next Sabah election, which must be held by 2025.
As the coalition with the most support in the six state elections on Saturday, Kiandee said, PN intends to strengthen its position in other states, including Sabah.
Sabah DAP, a Pakatan Harapan Unity Government member like GRS, said it is determined to ensure political stability to recover Sabah’s economy amid the post-pandemic era.
“We will continue to support the Federal and Sabah Unity Government until the end of the term,” Its Secretary Phoong Jin Zhe said.
“I am of the opinion that his (Yong’s) statement is irrelevant and does not represent the stance of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.
“However, it is clear that SAPP is trying to destabilise both the Federal and Sabah Unity Government by sowing discord among GRS and Pakatan Harapan.
“As SAPP is still with Perikatan Nasional, its agenda is clear and I believe the people will judge for themselves,” he said.
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