KOTA KINABALU – Sabah DAP has chastised the party's former Johor chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau over his outburst against Warisan, claiming it was unwarranted and has done damage to opposition unity at the federal level.
Its publicity secretary and Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe said Boo should not have bypassed Sabah DAP in the matter, in light of Warisan being a Sabah-based ally.
“I would like to hereby state that while Dr Boo is entitled to his opinion as the DAP practises democracy and freedom of speech, it is his personal view and does not represent Sabah DAP.
“He should have firstly channelled his views, opinions and/or complaints via internal opposition channels, or perhaps through DAP Sabah.
“By making such a demand for apology from Warisan out of the blue and bypassing Sabah DAP not only is he putting Sabah DAP in an awkward position, he is also threatening opposition unity at the federal level,” Phoong said in a statement here today.
He said Boo should have fully grasped the issue at hand before demanding the Warisan MPs to issue an apology over their purported absence in the Dewan Rakyat during two recent bloc votings on the 2021 Budget.
Labuan MP and Warisan chief whip Datuk Rozman Isli later confirmed that the party’s MPs skipped the bloc votes to send a signal to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and indicate that PH needs a new leadership.
He added that Boo should approach Sabah DAP first before making public such sentiments, adding that it would do less damage to the opposition parties if he brings up the matter internally at first.
“Firstly, Dr. Boo has to put himself in Warisan’s shoes and fully understand the circumstances that Warisan is in, namely that they are also similarly embarrassed and affected by the decision made by opposition leader cum PKR chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last Thursday not to go for bloc voting, which had led to them having no confidence in Anwar.
“Following that, Anwar has the responsibility to unite the opposition camp. It is morally wrong to divert the responsibility to Warisan for being absent at the committee-stage bloc voting while conveniently ignoring the fact that Anwar himself has failed to achieve majority to turn down the budget as he promised a strong, formidable and convincing majority in September,” he said.
Phoong said the finger-pointing must end between opposition parties, adding that the country demands a united and progressive opposition, as well as a strong opposition leader, who can offer “alternatives to revive the Malaysia dream.” – The Vibes, December 2, 2020
