KOTA KINABALU – A Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leader’s call for all peninsula-based parties to sit out the next Sabah election in 2025 has upset some leaders in the alliance and DAP.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, who is also GRS deputy president, reportedly made the remark at a party convention held over the weekend.
He had also suggested that GRS must contest all 73 Sabah seats and leave nothing to friendly parties on the national level.
Yong’s remark has drawn flak especially from Sabah DAP, whose youth chief Chan Loong Wei demanded that GRS clarify the alliance’s position with regard to Yong’s statement.
“If what Yong said was not true, GRS must clarify its stand. If they disagree with Yong, appropriate disciplinary action should be initiated against Yong for disrupting the cohesion of the unity government,” said Chan.
The politician also noted the role of Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) in helping GRS retain power during the state’s political crisis last January.
Chan was referring to the seven Sabah PH assemblymen’s show of support for GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor to remain as chief minister when Sabah Umno withdrew their support for GRS.
Sabah DAP secretary Phoong Jin Zhe also said that Yong’s statement aims to destabilise both the federal and state unity governments by sowing discord among GRS and PH.
The Borneo Post reported Yong as saying during the joint opening of SAPP’s Kota Kinabalu division’s annual general meeting on Sunday that peninsula-based parties should refrain from contesting in the state election.
“My view is that it is a state election. It should be contested by local parties and that peninsula-based parties should stay out of the poll,” Yong told reporters after the launch.
He also said he will propose to GRS-friendly parties including PH, Barisan Nasional, and Perikatan Nasional to stay out of the state elections to avoid straight fights with friendly alliances.
The GRS coalition comprises SAPP, Harapan Rakyat, PBS, Sabah Star, Usno, LDP, and Gagasan Rakyat.
Only SAPP remains a component in the federal opposition bloc, Perikatan Nasional.
A GRS component, Harapan Rakyat, has already distanced itself from the SAPP leader’s view.
“We respect his perspective; however, it does not represent the collective view of GRS,” said the party’s information chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan today.
Nizam said seat talks between GRS components have not been discussed between the parties’ top leaders, adding that the alliance remains focused on state development with their partners in Sabah PH.
The controversy also drew the attention of PN component Bersatu, with its vice-president Datuk Ronald Kiandee asking Yong to explain his proposal.
“We want to be clear that no party has the authority to prevent other political parties, including PN, from engaging the democratic process in Sabah,” said Kiandee, making it clear that PN will take part in the Sabah election in 2025.
Replying in a reply statement today, Yong then hit out at Sabah DAP’s Phoong, saying that SAPP’s core principles in regards to Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Sabah’s autonomy was very clear.
“Minister Phoong should know that the right to explain the policies of a party is not the exclusive monopoly of DAP.
“I spoke with members of my party at the party’s annual general meeting. Our loyal and dedicated party members have the right to know the party’s stance,” he said.
“Phoong should not interfere. The news about SAPP contesting under the GRS symbol and GRS candidates has no relevance to minister Phoong. Why is his reaction exaggerated?” he said.
Only local parties have been part of the Sabah political scene for some years, with some Sabah leaders believing the state should emulate the political front in Sarawak. – The Vibes, August 15, 2023
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