SABAH Progressive Party (SAPP) has officially withdrawn from Perikatan Nasional (PN) following plans by the coalition's peninsula-based parties to field candidates in the Sabah state election.
SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the decision was made during the party’s supreme council meeting on November 23, with PN formally notified of their departure shortly after.
“It is evident that PN intends to contest in the upcoming Sabah election, a stance that contradicts SAPP’s long-held principle that all 73 Sabah legislative seats should only be contested by local parties,” Yong said in a statement.
PN comprises Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan.
“This decision is rooted in our commitment to ensure Sabah’s 73 state seats are contested solely by local parties,” he added, emphasising that the move aligns with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Sabah’s autonomy.
Yong said SAPP would not compromise its commitment to ensuring Sabah’s elections remain free from interference by peninsula-based parties.
“PN’s insistence on fielding candidates from Malaya-based parties directly contradicts this fundamental principle,” he said.
Yong called on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to contest all 73 state seats in the upcoming election and to clarify its alignment with Pakatan Harapan (PH) before the end of the year.
“This is essential to protect Sabah’s rights and reflect the aspirations of our people,” he said.
“As a reminder, regardless of what DAP or Sabah PH leaders may claim, ultimate decision-making power remains with their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. As we have seen, PH and BN have strengthened their alliance, irrespective of GRS’s goodwill towards PH,” he added.
Yong reaffirmed SAPP’s commitment to GRS, saying the coalition remains the best platform to uphold Sabah’s autonomy and self-determination. – December 14, 2024
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