SANDAKAN – As Sabah DAP is hit with a mass exodus of more than 100 members and counting, its chairman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung has appealed to cadres thinking of quitting and even those who have already left to reconsider their decision.
He said all members are supposed to be focused on the plight and suffering of the people during this critical time for the country.
“This is an unusual time. We should be thinking of ways to best lighten the burden of our suffering people,” he said in an interview with The Vibes.
“Many have lost family members, jobs, and many SMEs (small and medium-scale enterprises) need political support.
“I appeal to all these members to reconsider their decisions and redirect their energies to constructive matters – help push for better healthcare, local authority service delivery, security issues, and many more.”
Poon was commenting on the departure of over 100 Sabah DAP members (reported to date), after state party adviser and former state chairman Datuk Jimmy Wong announced his departure on November 22.
Wong has formed a new NGO called Sabah Natural Justice for Sabahans.
Poon said all members are supposed to work together regardless of who is in the party’s committee.
(During the party election) several hundred members decided who will best lead them for the next three years. After that, we were supposed to close ranks,” he said.
The departure of party members followed dissatisfaction over the state party election results on November 21, which saw representatives – Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, Kapayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang and Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun – failing to garner sufficient votes to make it into the committee.
Earlier today, Chong denied contemplating a move away from the party as claimed by a news portal.
He said that while it is true that he would be evaluating the Sabah DAP’s new committee line-up’s performance in the next two weeks, leaving the party is not on the books at the moment.
“My priority is the people in my constituency right now. I am not thinking about any position or entering any new party; those are not in my books.
“What I told the reporter was that I would be evaluating the performance of the new committee line-up to see if they will be working for the party and for the people,” he told The Vibes.
Chong said that it is unreasonable for the new committee line-up to remain quiet about the departure of members.
“It is like they don’t care about the party, like people leaving the party does not have any impact on them now that they have secured positions in the party,” he said.
“I would like to see if they are going to take any action on this. Also, if they are going to take any action to defend the people right now.
“If they are still quiet after two weeks, then I will be speaking up to criticise them,” he said.
Asked if criticising the committee means leaving the party, Chong said no, leaving the party is a different issue, and he is not considering it at the moment.
“If the party is performing and doing well, if they actively help and defend the people, then why would I leave?” he added. – The Vibes, December 2, 2021
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