tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39809341239165509722024-03-13T23:52:14.299+08:00SAPP BlogOpen for all Malaysians to contribute their comments, views and reactions on issues affecting us....
Citizen Rights! Fairness! Equality! Democracy! Truth!and Justice! Your support to help Sabah break from decades of Federalism, imbalances, political domination, repression and so forth...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger344125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-46613119742366233552014-09-07T18:41:00.002+08:002014-09-07T18:41:54.288+08:00Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Facebook PageFor more news please watch the following - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mediasapp">SAPP Facebook Page</a><br />
THANKS.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-21112299980318156392014-07-11T15:56:00.003+08:002014-07-11T15:57:30.828+08:00What Sabah must do to regain upper hand<div style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/security/esszone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/security/esszone.jpg" height="329" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px;" width="454" /></a>KOTA KINABALU, July 5, 2014: It is crucial for Malaysia to reset its relations with the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) with a view to provide security and peace in Sabah as was clearly promised during the formation of Malaysia in 1963.<br />
<br />
Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said Malaysia must show serious political will and deploy overwhelming resources to regain the upper hand at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) or else it will lose more than just prestige.<br />
<br />
"Failure is not an option. For Malaysia," said the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President in a statement, Friday.<br />
<br />
Yong claimed Malaysia was paying the price for decades of neglect in bolstering its defences; choosing instead to conveniently blame the long coast lines and pump boats.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
The launch of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in March last year "at last" gave some hope but the seven battalions promised are still nowhere to be seen.<br />
<br />
"Esscom's internal problems have mutated into a rotating command between army and police, and Esscom is still talking and doing census like they are in the dark on what the real problem is," he said.<br />
<br />
The MNLF, heading the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) bordering Sabah, would have been Malaysia's best partner in combating cross-border crimes and terrorists, he said.<br />
<br />
"But Malaysia burned the bridge to MNLF when Malaysia sent MNLF leader Nur Misuari back to his enemies at Manila instead of to a third country such as a member of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) of which the MNLF is an official observer.<br />
<br />
"With Nur Misauri back in their custody, the Philippines not only withdrew charges of rebellion against him but even courted him to contest under the banner of Kampi Party, the ruling government led by President Gloria Arroyo, Misuari's captors!<br />
<br />
"There is reason to believe that the Philippines was doing a 'blowback' against Malaysia by turning the MNLF against Malaysia," he said.<br />
<br />
As for the recent peace agreement between the Philippines Republic and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), there was little cause for Sabah to celebrate because the areas of operations of the MILF do not border Sabah.<br />
<br />
The MILF is active mainly in the eastern and central parts of Mindanao and not the Sulu islands bordering Sabah.<br />
<br />
In this respect, Yong said Malaysian authorities were losing the upper hand in their war to combat cross-border terrorists (aka kidnappers) and so-called Sulu intruders because the authorities have lost the confidence of the local people and lost their prestige as a much more superior force.<br />
<br />
"The repeated humiliations inflicted on the authorities at the hands of kidnappers who struck ever closer and closer to army and police bases, the 'soldiers-shoot-soldiers' incident outside a Lahad Datu pub where Indonesian GROs ply, the admissions of 'inside job and corruption' amongst our security personnel, the unsolved spate of shootings at 46 premises in Kota Kinabalu and the flimsy explanations by the military and police top brass have made them a laughing stock," Yong contended.<br />
<br />
He said that as far as Esscom is concerned, the problem was the blowback of Malaysia's policies, neglect and negligence in dealings with the Philippines, their Sabah Claim and underestimating the willpower of the Sulu people.<br />
<br />
The Sulu people, also called Bangsa Moro, have waged wars against the mighty Spanish for 400 years, against superpower Americans for another 50 years and against the Philippines Republic for the last 50 years.<br />
<br />
"So Esscom to them is just a nuisance," he said.<br />
<br />
"Just because the Sabah Claim has absolutely no legal basis at all, Malaysia has chosen to ignore the many Filipino maps that include Sabah, albeit in a different colour; and to brush aside the sentiments of Suluks that this land called North Borneo is part of their Sulu Sultanate.<br />
<br />
"Philippines' maps continue to instill a sense of hope among young Filipinos that their 'Sabah Claim' will become reality some day in the future, and in the meantime take advantage of the skewed immigration policy of Malaysia. Malaysia will be saddled with this 'Sabah-Sulu' issue over the long haul.<br />
<br />
"Those who suffer are Sabahans while at stake is the sovereignty of Malaysia as a nation," he said.<br />
<br />
Yong said it was a common knowledge that the weapons and ammunitions used by the armed groups like Abu Sayyaf and kidnap gangs are "Made in America", and partly sold by elements of the Philippines military and police to these gangs.<br />
<br />
"Kidnap For Ransom (KFR) is a daily occurrence in the Philippines with their own security forces being implicated.<br />
<br />
"The Sulu sea area is a lawless region with a thriving drug and small arms trade. The organisation most capable of enforcing law and order in this region is not the corrupt, inefficient and asset-starved Philippine security forces. It is the MNLF," he said.<br />
<br />
He said MNLF forces have been successfully deployed against the Abu Sayyaf. "Some people got confused between the various groups in the Southern Philippines. For instance, just after the Sulu intrusion at Lahad Datu in February last year, social media was awash with a photo of MNLF leader Nur Misuari surrounded with hundreds of heavily armed fighters, suggesting that this was the impending invasion force to attack Sabah," he said.<br />
<br />
In fact, that was an old photo, found in the Internet, of a massing of MNLF troops before their assault against the Abu Sayyaf in the Sulu area, he said.<br />
<br />
Yong was not convinced that Nur Misuari or the MNLF were involved in the kidnappings in Sabah.<br />
<br />
"To put it bluntly, if the MNLF as a whole were involved, then the scale and intensity of these attacks would not be just at Tanduo, Lahad Datu or a few kidnappings. Surely, our security intelligence services know this.<br />
<br />
"The kidnap gangs are simply bandits who know their way around better than our outstation security forces who, with due respect, eagerly look forward to be posted home," he said.<i><br /><br />Daily Express</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-53630873014989398122014-05-29T15:36:00.003+08:002014-05-29T15:36:30.738+08:00More public consultations and feedback needed for DBKK "final draft"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/tgaru/tg-aru-beach-protest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/tgaru/tg-aru-beach-protest.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU, May 23, 2014: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the DBKK "final draft" plans should be postponed indefinitely until more public consultations and feedback have been obtained.<br />
<br />"This is because there are some serious issues like loss of public reserve lands to commercial uses.<br /><br />"Other than the controversial issue of the Tg Aru beach which is glaring and has aroused public anger, the plans also include the commercialisation of the KK central market Land and some native traditional kampongs," he added.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />When asked about the Tg Aru rezoning issue where the Mayor has given assurance that the beach and Prince Philip Park will remain accessible to the public, Yong said that this is a form of land grab whereby the public and also villagers lose their land to private developers.<img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/tgaru/tg-aru-beach-protection.jpg" /><br /><br />"The Tanjung Aru plans shows an entire swap of Land PLUS sea as zoned commercial for hotels and resorts. The Mayor needs to be more specific in what he meant by continued public access to the beach. For example, there is no public access to the sea fronts at Tg Aru beach Hotel and Sutera harbour. Only Hyatt in down town is continued access to sea front possible," he told.<br /><br />He said some Aru trees at the prince Philip park have been cut down already. <br /><br />"SAPP has made a protest on site on in 2012 and again September 8 last year 2013 (just before the proposed launching of the project by the PM on sept. 16). <br /><br />"We were summoned by the police to have our statements taken on May 5 this year.<br /><br />He further added that in the old town plans, the market areas were zoned "government public reserves" in blue colour. Now, it is proposed to be rezoned to commercial. We have been protesting against these loss of public lands.<br /><br />"DBKK and the government can use the precedent and example of the Likas Bird sanctuary in 1997 whereby a government Rakan Muda field and sports facilities were shelved to make way for the Bird Park, when we discovered that there were rare birds nesting there with eggs. the daily Express highlighted the issue at the time.<br /><br />"The point is that, even after DBKK has done some planning, the plans can be changed to make KK a more liveable City. Today, KK is one of the few cities with a Bird sanctuary near City Centre," Yong pointed out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-73687298217934102872014-05-29T15:32:00.002+08:002014-05-29T15:34:12.837+08:00Time to rebuild confidence between Malaysia-China peoples<h3 style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/economy/china-msia-friendship.jpg" height="266" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px;" width="350" /></h3>
KOTA KINABALU, May 17, 2014: "China tourists and businessmen will again come to Sabah, which is friendly, offers the best tourist destinations at most affordable prices and nearest to China", said ex-Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee in a statement here today.<br />
<br />
Yong observed that China is a rising power which attracts suspicions among other nations, saying that China cannot run away from the stark reality that she needs friends.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
"China's neighbours are displaying anything from cold shoulder to outright hostility towards China over maritime claims and history. China's out-bound visitors face an increasingly angry Philippines, a hostile Japan and now anti-China mobs in Vietnam targeting ordinary Chinese. Another popular destination, Thailand is beset with political violence. These are all risky countries for China tourists and business people," said Yong adding that the recent mass protests at Taiwan against further assimilation into the China economy show the uneasiness among Taiwanese towards mainland China.<br />
<br />
"Therefore, realistically, China visitors in search of safe and friendly destinations will look to Malaysia or Bali (Indonesia) and Singapore.<br />
<br />
Yong also urges the Sabah Malaysia-China Friendship Association (MaZhong), Malaysia-China Business Council in Sabah and other social bodies with links to China to prove their worth because the situation in both Malaysia and China warrants more people-to-people exchanges to rebuild the set-backs caused to Malaysia by the MH370 issue and negative publicity of cross border abductions of Chinese nationals in Sabah.<br />
<br />
"Mazhong, for instance, tried to project a strong presence in Sabah by staging a cultural show in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-China relations during the Chinese New Year," said Yong. "But Mazhong should not only be hosting cultural shows which, in any case, have been organised by other organisations. Mazhong and Malaysia-China bodies should show their relevance by building confidence among the China public towards Malaysia, especially Sabah. In terms of tourism, investment and bilateral trade, people-to-people linkages are crucial," said Yong who is also an advisor to several Sabah-based social bodies with links to China.<br />
<br />
"Ever since 1974, Malaysia has been the best friend of China in South East Asia. The rare MH370 tragedy will fade into the background against the international news of other disasters like the Korea ferry sinking, the Nigeria school girls kidnapping, the Turkey coal mine explosion and other major international incidents" concluded Yong who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-50802271660511421122014-05-10T15:54:00.004+08:002014-05-10T15:54:33.558+08:00Investigate why Fed Govt has failed Sabah<h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bolder; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/security/esszone.jpg" height="253" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px;" width="350" /></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
KOTA KINABALU - Long after the foreign gunmen have fled back to the Philippines with their victims, the Home Minister and his top brass from Putrajaya heroically showed up at Lahad Datu accompanied by an impressive force of police VAT 69 commandoes and not less than four truck loads of fully armed soldiers and countless undercover agents in a town now familiar with road blocks and low flying surveillance aircraft that appear each time a government minister drops by. The Home Minister has been given a “black eye and bloody nose” by the latest cross-border abduction deep in Malaysian territory.<br />
<br />
The people of Sabah, and our helpless Chief Minister, are fed with yet another round of promises and big talk of actions, beefing up of military assets, co-operation with the Philippines and so on by the federal government.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
It is high time that the Malaysian authorities disclose whether the armed bandits are actually Abu Sayaff or are ex-operatives of MILF or MNLF or are "lost commands" of the disbanded MNLF/MILF forces.<br />
<br />
Are the high-powered weapons used by the gunmen supplied or sold by elements of the Philippines military? Are there elements in the Philippines military involved in the kidnappings? Why has it been impossible for the Philippines authorities to take actions against these gunmen within their territory?<br />
<br />
The authorities should further investigate why the federal government has failed to provide adequate security for Sabah, what has happened to the deployment of "seven battalions of police and army" for ESSZONE and why has Putrajaya failed to provide the logistics, manpower and resources desperately needed for ESSCOM?<br />
<br />
Was the spate of shootings of 46 commercial premises in the State capital in January linked to last year's Lahad Datu Tanduo intrusion?<br />
<br />
Datuk Yong Teck Lee<br />
Kota Kinabalu, Friday 9 May 2014Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-36205834309900852082014-04-10T20:04:00.000+08:002014-04-17T20:05:38.327+08:00Slap proceeds to benefit families of fallen heroes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/supreme/yongtecklee3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/supreme/yongtecklee3.jpg" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU - "The people of Sabah have suffered too long because of the failure of the federal government to fulfill its constitutional duty to secure Sabah from foreign intrusions and cross border violent crimes, resulting in a loss of confidence on the authorities. The recent cross border abductions of tourists have inevitably caused severe damage to the economy as well. We can imagine the extreme trauma currently faced by the kidnap victims and the anguish felt by the victims' families. Perhaps the ministers do not feel the suffering of the people in Sabah. "Enough is enough!"<br /><a name='more'></a><br />On Home Minister Zahid's slap challenge for me to slap him personally, I accept his challenge and invite him to come to visit Lahad Datu and Semporna without being escorted by his crowd of bodyguards and police and army security cordon.<br /><br />I will donate the RM501 from Zahid to the Tabung Wira Lahad Datu (Lahad Datu Heroes Fund) for the benefit of the families of the fallen heroes who were sacrificed in defending Sabah during the Lahad Datu Tanduo intrusion in March 2013. If Zahid keeps his promise to pay the RM501 upon being slapped, I am confident that Sabahans will contribute more than ten times to the Fund.<br /><br />I hope Zahid will not break his promise like what he had done when he failed to reveal the names of the three opposition leaders whom he alleged were behind the Lahad Datu Tanduo intrusion. Last year on the eve of early polling by security forces and families at the 13th General Elections, Zahid had claimed that the three opposition leaders involved in the Lahad Datu Tanduo intrusion will be revealed after the elections. But to date, he has failed to do so and kept his silence on the matter".<br /><br />Yong Teck Lee<br />Ex Chief Minister, SabahUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-676976508949802752014-04-06T20:06:00.000+08:002014-04-17T20:07:19.599+08:00Deputy Home Minister highly irresponsible and should resign too!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/supreme/melanie_chia_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/supreme/melanie_chia_2011.jpg" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was quoted yesterday in saying that resorts operating in remote locations off Sabah should cease operation as authorities cannot prevent repeats of Wednesday’s abduction near Semporna. He said the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) — tasked with coordinating security forces in Sabah, could not provide round-the-clock protection to these far-flung locations.<br /><br />Melanie Chia Chui Ket, the Vice President and Women Chief of Sabah Progressive Party, condemned the suggestion made by the Deputy Home Minister saying that the Government cannot shrug off its responsibility just like that!<br /><a name='more'></a><br />The Deputy Home Minister is being highly irresponsible even to suggest that resorts operating in remote locations off Sabah should cease operation only because he thinks that the security forces could not provide round the clock protection to these far-flung locations!<br /><br />It is unbelievable that such utterance is made by a Deputy Minister! It is also a wonder if the Deputy Minister had first tried to understand the condition before he made such an utterance. How could he not know that the resort where the abduction happened is only a 5 minutes boat ride from Semporna town!<br /><br />It is as if the Minister should cut off his hand if his hand is immobilized! Shouldn’t he think of how to heal his hand instead? If he cannot discharge his duty, he should let somebody else who is more capable to take over his job. The Government should not make any further insensitive utterances which could create any more uneasiness especially at this time.<br /><br />Melanie further went on to call on the Deputy Minister instead of making unwitting suggestion to close off island resorts, the lest he could do is to help to push for the early release of the outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah. This is pertinent as the Sabah Police Chief Datuk Hamza Taib was reported yesterday to have said that the abduction which happened on Wednesday was an “inside” job. <br /><br />Sabah Progressive Party had since the 1990s been calling the Government to resolve the illegal immigrants problem in Sabah and has dub the issue as the Mother of All Threats for Sabah.<br /><br />Melanie contended that the long term solution to peace and security in Sabah is highly dependent on the outcome on the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah. <br /><br />As the call by the Chief Minister for all efforts to be directed to resolve the abduction which happened on Wednesday, Melanie stressed that this effort should include the seriousness and the commitment to resolve the long term peace and security issue in Sabah.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-17873934905489291882014-03-20T20:08:00.000+08:002014-04-17T20:08:59.040+08:00Sabah should emulate Sarawak CM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/hq/eric-underdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/hq/eric-underdog.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) saluted the new Sarawak Chief Minister and hit State Government's firm stand in safeguarding Sarawakian interests, which it said should be emulated by the Sabah State Government.<br /><br />Its Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun. who said this, also urged the Sabah Chief Minister and State Government to state its stand on what was raised by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem on the oil royalty increase and soon.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />Adenan was reported Monday as hoping to get the Federal Government to agree to 20 per cent oil royalty for Sarawak. saying he would ask the Federal Government if they could accommodate the request.<br /><br />Believing the Federal Government will consider it favourably. Adenan said the present 5 per cent oil and gas royalty rate is a common complaint by Sarawakians and Sabahans, usually talked about in the same breath as their relative lack of development.<br /><br />The Sarawak Chief Minister also spoke about Sarawak and Sabah asking the Federal Government to honour the Malaysia Agreement, saying the relationship between Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak cannot be the same as that of. for instance, KL and Pahang, because Sarawak enjoys autonomy due to the fact that it did not join but helped to form Malaysia in 1963.<br /><br />Adenan said its relationship with the Federal Government must be constitutionally correct and that they are an autonomous state according to the Malaysia Agreement.<br /><br />" We did not join Malaysia, we are a party to the formation of Malaysia. There was no Malaysia to join before signing of the Malaysia Agreement. We are equal partners to the Federation. There are some who feel that they are not but generally we are. All alone we must insist on our autonomy and I think in some ways it is respected. But it depends on how assertive we are with regards to our rights," said Adenan.<br /><br />Praising Adenan for his boldness and firmness in fighting for and protecting the interests of Sarawakians, Majimbun. who was formerly Sepanggar MP, said he and the party wondered what actually is the stand of Adenan's counterpart in Sabah and the Slate Government itself.<br /><br />The Sabah Chief Minister and State Government should wake up and uphold the Malaysia Agreement...matters related to immigration and other Sabahan rights must be reviewed to ensure they go according to the Malaysia Agreement which was written and agreed upon for safeguarding Sabah," said Majimbun.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-17054435553925408172014-03-09T20:10:00.000+08:002014-04-17T20:10:53.911+08:00Major current issues not addressed at NUCC public dialogue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/yong-nucc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/yong-nucc.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU: The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) should use its public dialogue to examine current major issues and not just to discuss the same topics that have been brought up since over a generation ago.<br /><br />Former chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said the latest NUCC dialogue held here yesterday had attracted an encouraging turnout and participation from the floor in the discussion session was very good.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />However, he said it was disappointing that the main topic being deliberated, which was national unity, was out of date as it had been thoroughly discussed in the late 80s.<br /><br />"There were many interesting issues being brought up but unfortunately the discussion centred mostly on national integration, which had been discussed during the National Economy Consultative Council (MAPEN) meeting in 1989 and its report was later documented in February 1991," he said when met after the public dialogue entitled "Grass Roots Voices, Building a United Malaysian Race", organized by NUCC at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.<br /><br />Yong, who is Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president and a former NUCC member, said there was nothing wrong about revisiting such an important topic, but those bringing it up should first do their homework and study what had already been covered so that the discussion can move forward.<br /><br />He explained that the issues involved had been identified and thoroughly discussed and the necessary measures for promoting national unity had also been studied and documented through various forums, apart from MAPEN 1989.<br /><br />He added that there were many representatives from Sabah during these forums and all that were discussed were included in the MPEN 1991 report.<br /><br />"A lot of views and suggestions were given during the dialogue this time and this is a good thing. However, I hope the next session would not be another discussion that we will report to the next generation when in fact we already have the same report from the generation before," he said.<br /><br />In the dialogue earlier, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Gerakan Kesederhanaan Global (GMMF), Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, said Malaysians have always had unity all this while but that unity was still far from perfect.<br /><br />He said Malaysians had not achieved true unity yet due to religious contradictions as well as differences of opinions on other sensitive issues such as security, among others.<br /><br />"These contradictions prevented us from achieving total unity. Fortunately, we have been able to live in peace until today despite our differences. Inputs from the public gathered from this dialogue are important to enable NUCC to compile its preliminary report by April, before submitting the final report next July," he said.<br /><br />He noted that NUCC had scheduled 18 series of open and closed door dialogues with various groups, including politicians and religious leaders.<br /><br />The Borneo Post 2014/03/09Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-89352690475135200282014-02-24T20:02:00.000+08:002014-04-17T20:04:04.401+08:00Donating aid to flood stricken members in Keningau & Tenom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/keningau/flood-aid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/keningau/flood-aid.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></div>
KENINGAU- Datuk Frankie Chong(in picture) giving out relief supplies such as bags of rice and food assortments SAPP member families in Kg.Ansip & Kg.Pegalungan. <br />
<br />
As many as 45 SAPP member families were given aid during the give away of aid. Those who were at the giving out of donations were Puan Irene Chan from SAPP women's EXCO and members of AJK CLC Sook.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Vice president Jimmy Jawatah was also giving provisional aid such as rice and food assortments at areas of Malalap and Kamabong. As many as 217 families SAPP member families received aid. SAPP leaders who were also at attendance during the giving out of aid were vice president & SAPP women's wing chief Puan Melanie Chia and wife of Parti President Datin Seri Panglima Stella Yong.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-62700077005069396922014-02-15T19:59:00.000+08:002014-04-17T20:02:37.227+08:00Only full withdrawal and apology may defuse lawsuits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/ge13/ge13-vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/ge13/ge13-vote.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the accusations by DAP and its leader Junz Wong against SAPP and him (Yong) were so viciously defamatory that only a full withdrawal and apology can defuse lawsuits.<br />
<br />
“Junz had personally alleged that `SAPP has worked out a 50 million deal agreement with Najib to split Sabah voters` and that SAPP had offered him (junz) candidacy and some cash.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
“These are blatant lies that only Junz Wong can answer for in a court of law,” Yong told reporters in response to DAP Sabah chief Jimmy Wong`s call for SAPP and the party president to withdraw the defamation suits against DAP and Junz.<br />
<br />
Yong said Junz and DAP had received several letters from SAPP`s side concerning these matters but both DAP and Junz had completely ignored our letters.<br />
<br />
“Now,Jimmy Wong hypocritically speaks about cooperation, Jimmy Wong should stop this double talk,” said Yong.<br />
<br />
“Luckily, in Malaysia, we still have the courts of law, which DAP has often used successfully to bring its accusers to court for remedy.<br />
<br />
“Three of the four suits concern accusations against SAPP and myself on the issue of illegal immigrants, phantom voters and Project M.<br />
<br />
“These are such serious allegations of treason against SAPP and myself that since DAP and Junz have refused to even reply to our letters, we are now left with absolutely no option but to seek legal redress to clear our names,” Yong said.<br />
<br />
He contended that in fact, DAP, Jimmy and Junz knew who the real culprits were in the illegals,phantom voters and `Project M` issues, but instead of pinning the real culprits, Dap and Junz had chosen to attack an innocent party, SAPP.<br />
<br />
“As for Jimmy`s remarks that the defamation suit is `like an adult bullying a kid`, My advice to him is not to look down on and insult Junz.<br />
<br />
“Junz is not a kid, Within this term of the DAP office bearers, jimmy will suffer the same fate as other DAP leaders who have left DAP,” he said. (DE-15/2/2014)<br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bolder; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-75950363941264272852014-01-25T16:14:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:14:25.133+08:00Power Tariff Hike Protest<span style="clear: left; color: navy; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/youth/power-hike-protest.jpg" height="264" width="400" /></span>KOTA KINABALU, January 25, 2014: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has called for the State’s power utility management to be fully returned to the State Government after the recent power outage which left all of Sabah and Labuan without electricity for some ten hours.<br />
<br />
SAPP Kota Kinabalu Youth Chief John Stephen Dionysius said the power outage clearly showed the inability of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) in managing the state’s power supply under Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
“We think this is rather unfair for Sabah especially now with the increase in electricity tariff by 16.9 per cent,” he said during a peaceful protest staged by some 20 SAPP members at the SESB headquarters in Karamunsing here, at about 11am, Friday.<br />
<br />
Also present are SAPP Youth Chief Edward Dagul, SAPP supreme councillor Stephan Gaimin, SAPP Youth and Mudanita members.<br />
<br />
More than 20 police and SESB security men blocked off access to the SESB HQ offices while some management personel and engineers meet the SAPP group.<br />
<br />
“Last year, SAPP has called for the management of SESB to be fully returned to the State Government after major districts in the State were affected by more than seven hours power outage and today we make the same call again.<br />
<br />
<img align="right" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/youth/sesb-protest.jpg" height="375" width="500" />“We call for a short and long term solution to address the frequent power outage because there should be no more excuses from TNB and SESB.<br />
<br />
“Yesterday, TNB disclosed that they earned a profit of RM1.4million, and today we read in the newspaper about SESB chiefs themselves admitting that they need RM2billion for power utility management in Sabah. <br />
<br />
“What is the option left for Sabahans, since RM2billion is needed by SESB, but the profit earned by TNB is only RM1.4million?,” he asked.<br />
<br />
“They need to explain this matter to the people of Sabah because if they cannot manage power utility properly then they should return it to the State Government,” he said, stressing that there should not be anymore delay or excuses.<br />
<br />
“Sarawak who manages their own power utility has no problems with their power supply and that is why we want SESB to be returned to the State Government,” he said.<br />
<br />
The group gathered at the entrance of the Karamunsing Shopping Complex with banners with words ‘TNB tidak pandai urus SESB)’ (TNB does not know how to manage SESB) and ‘SESB tariff naik, perkhidmatan turun’ (SESB tariff increase, performance decrease).<br />
<br />
Despite the rain, the group continued to proceed to Wisma SESB calling for the State Government to be given autonomy as police and SESB officials stood by.<br />
<br />
There was a slight commotion among the crowd when one SESB engineer shouted to the group that power outage would not have happened if they supported the coal power plant.<br />
<br />
In response SAPP Youth Chief Edward Dagul challenged the engineer to talk to the media who were present but the engineer went away.<br />
<br />
“SESB official asked us to support coal power plant and on behalf of the people I say that it is self-explanatory that TNB has failed, so return the autonomy to the State Government,” said Edward Dagul in response.<br />
<br />
“Don’t make any comments of coal power plant or about us rejecting it if you do not know the facts,” he said.<br />
<br />
Police dispersed the group about 15 minutes later. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-34946717391438447492014-01-23T16:12:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:12:57.322+08:00Fake attack at Suria Sabah<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/kk/junz-wong-hoax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/kk/junz-wong-hoax.jpg" height="192" width="400" /></a><b>Too eager to be hero, Junz Wong has tragically turned a private family matter into a public embarrassment </b><br />
<br />
KOTA KINABALU, January 23, 2014: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has accused DAP Sabah assistant secretary cum Likas Assemblyman Junz Wong of allegedly manipulating the young girl in the 'fake robbery' controversy, to come out to apologise publicly.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Speaking at a news conference held here today, a group of SAPP women activists led by its supreme councillor Chia Miu Lee claimed that Wong had manipulated the girl to issue a public apology, to Suria Sabah Shopping Mall especially, after his dubious claim concerning the so-called robbery attempt which allegedly took place in Suria Sabah recently, backfired. <br />
<br />
They were responding to the public apology made by the girl, who refused to be identified, in a news conference organized by Wong, on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
They said it was utterly irresponsible for Wong to manipulate the girl to apologise to everyone especially Suria Sabah, after his attempt to score political mileage by highlighting the alleged robbery attempt in Suria Sabah, backfired. They noted that a thorough investigation by both Suria Sabah management and the police had confirmed that such incident never took place there. <br />
<br />
They suspected that the said public apology was just a publicity stunt by Wong to cover up his blunder which has now backfired on him.<br />
<br />
"In the first place, it was Junz Wong who personally posted on social media photos of a deeply cut thigh and hand with stitches without the consent or knowledge of the girl. <br />
<br />
"He also described in detail in his "KK Shocking news" posting of a young girl being attacked by a robber who is suspected to be an illegal immigrant robber. He also wrote that it was lucky that the robber was scared off by a couple who came out from the toilet. He even called on Suria Sabah to step up their security," she said.<br />
<br />
Chia continued that Wong’s desperation to score political mileage has caused the girl to unwittingly commit an offence of lodging a false police report which is a crime under the law. <br />
<br />
"If Junz Wong had not recklessly posted the fake photos and story (of the attempted robbery at Suria Sabah), the wrist-cutting incident by the young girl would have remained strictly a private family matter, and she would not have had to go through the trauma of repeating her story in the police station, and subsequently a public apology," she said.<br />
<br />
She maintained that that Wong had 'persuaded' the girl to lodge a false police report so as to cover up his own mistake earlier.<br />
<br />
"Too eager to be a hero, Junz Wong had tragically turned a private family matter into a public embarrassment for the family," she lambasted.<br />
<br />
Also present at the occasion were, Mary Siah, Wenddy Gaimin, and Rafidah Sarigan.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-29241806331668327052014-01-21T16:11:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:12:05.776+08:00Unity and patriotism crucial in Sabah's struggle for autonomy and progress<span style="color: navy;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/kk/yong-phinchung-josephvun.jpg" height="204" width="400" /></span>KOTA KINABALU, January 21, 2014: The unity of the people of all races, religions and social backgrounds is crucial in determining the success of Sabah's struggle for autonomy and progress, said ex-Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee, in remarks on the role of the Chinese Sabahans in fighting for Sabah which was raised by STAR Sabah Chapter Chairman Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan recently.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
"Dr. Jeffrey is well aware that his struggle for Sabah ever since the 1980s has been helped by patriots of all races, including ethnic Chinese Sabahan activists. Therefore, people should not be upset by his "out of the blue" comments last week that Chinese Sabahans should not only be interested in business but should protect Sabah's interests and autonomy, as though the Chinese community have not and are not doing so" said Yong, an ethnic Chinese Sabahan who also has been fighting for Sabah rights and autonomy.<br />
<br />
"Considering that Dr. Jeffrey's decades long political struggle, including being detained under the cruel Internal Security Act for more almost three years, has been based on Sabah rights, Sabahans should take Dr. Jeffrey's comments (on the Chinese community) in the right context," said Yong. <br />
<br />
<img align="right" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/kk/petagas-memorial.jpg" height="264" width="500" />Yong explained that actually, Dr. Jeffrey's comments were made in the context of the exodus of leaders from DAP. Dr. Jeffrey had said that "the ex-DAP leaders cannot simply give up the struggle. They should find a way to bring along the Chinese community to fight for Sabah’s rights and autonomy from now on. Sabah is their (Chinese Sabahan) homeland, too, that their ancestors, grand-parents and parents have helped to build," Dr. Jeffrey had said.<br />
<br />
Yong said that Sabah's history is filled with real struggles by peoples of all races who fought and sacrificed for Sabah. The 1976 June 6 Air crash that killed our leaders and the 1944 Jan 21 massacre of about 300 Sabahans (then North Borneons) freedom fighters by the Japanese military at Petagas, Batu Tiga and Labuan are two painful examples.<br />
<br />
Since not much have been written on the courageous uprising by the Kinabalu guerillas freedom fighters against the brutal Japanese occupation of the Sabah (North Borneo), a soft copy version of a booklet titled "The Heroes of Kinabalu" published in 1993 will be uploaded to the internet, together with an English and Bahasa Malaysia translation. Another book "Sabah (North Borneo) Under the Rising Sun government" by Stephen R. Evans of Keningau makes excellent reading.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-49092486956694039422014-01-19T16:07:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:10:13.592+08:00We will never give up<span style="color: navy;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/luyang/140117-dinner-ytl.jpg" height="227" width="400" /></span>KOTA KINABALU, January 19, 2014: One day when Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has a Yang Berhormat (YB), be it four or 10 years later, it will prove that SAPP is a Sabah-based party that never gives up.<br />
<br />
SAPP president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee said people had predicted that SAPP would “gulung tikar” (come to an end) after the 13th General Election (GE13).<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
“Let us all be patient. One day, be it four or 10 years later, when SAPP wins a YB (a constituency), we will be revived,” he said, while urging party members to continue SAPP’s struggle.<br />
<br />
“And the people will say that this party, SAPP, is a party that never gives up.”<br />
<br />
Yong said this during a Chinese New Year reunion dinner with members and supporters organized by SAPP Luyang Central Liaison Committee (CLC) headed by SAPP vice president cum Wanita chief Melanie Chia on Friday.<br />
<br />
Although none of SAPP’s candidates won in the last General Election, he said, this did not dampen the spirits of CLC members in every constituency.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, Yong pointed out that some political parties have won in the GE13 but ended up in chaos, with some members even jumping ship.<br />
<br />
“The General Election results last year were not pretty, but we saw the party members’ passionate support and that gave Sabahans hope.”<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, he said SAPP will be taking a break from holding their Chinese New Year event this year, an event the party had continuously organised for over 20 years.<br />
<br />
“SAPP has been holding cultural events in Foh Sang for the past 20 years. When we organized these events, other parties followed suit, and when we stopped organising, they did not do it as well,” Yong said.<br />
<br />
He also stressed that Luyang was the heart of politics for the Chinese in Sabah.<br />
<br />
“In the past 50 years, many Chinese from the outskirts moved to Kota Kinabalu. A majority of them settled in Luyang while a few went to Kepayan and Likas.<br />
<br />
“Every Chinese person in Sabah has friends or relatives in Luyang,” Yong said, adding that winning the Luyang constituency would be a big victory.<br />
<br />
He added he had once warned the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Hiew King Cheu would jump ship once he won, but still the Pakatan Rakyat coalition decided to let Hiew stand in the Luyang state constituency.<br />
<br />
Yong said while SAPP has became more low key after GE13, he was hoping that other opposition YBs could play a more effective roles in the State Legislative Assembly sitting.<br />
<br />
However, in the first State Assembly sitting after the general election, he pointed out that the opposition leaders had instead fought amongst themselves on the matter of whether Klias assemblyman Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin or Tamparuli assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing would be the opposition chief in the State Legislative Assembly.<br />
<br />
On the kangkung (water spinach) issue, Yong said the jokes surrounding kangkung were not created by political parties, but by ordinary people who were suffering from inflation.<br />
<br />
“This year’s Chinese New Year will not be like before. Ever since the schools reopened, there have been floods, power failure, glass shattering and everything else has become more expensive.”<br />
<br />
Federal and state committees were set up to address the rising cost of goods because the issue was a challenge for the government of the day, he said.<br />
<br />
“What we (SAPP) have said turned out to be true,” Yong said, referring to inflation, security, livelihood issues and PR candidates jumping ship.<br />
<br />
“We once said that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) should be managed by Sabah. The power disruption in Sabah and Labuan (on Friday) was certainly the first.”<br />
<br />
Yong also stressed on the importance for a government administration to be trustworthy and accountable to the people.<br />
<br />
Aside from that, he said the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and seizure of Bibles containing the word ‘Allah’ without informing the state executive council (exco) prior to the raid was boiled down to “miscommunication”.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, Yong said, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Azmin Ali was then removed from the board of Selangor State Economic Development Corporation (PKNS).<br />
<br />
“If Anwar says Azmin has to be reinstated as board member of PKNS, he can also ask for the Bibles to be returned.<br />
<br />
“Government administration is vital, it has to be trustworthy and accountable to the people,” he pointed out.<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
----------------------<br />
<div style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><b>Price panel is a gimmick: SAPP</b></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/luyang/140117-dinner.jpg" height="216" width="550" />KOTA KINABALU: The announcement of the formation of Special Committee To Tackle The Cost of Living by the Deputy Prime Minister is just a political gimmick to save the political career of those in power and not to tackle the price hike issue, said former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee.<br />
<br />
Similarly, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman has also instructed the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Community Development to monitor reports on the exorbitant hikes in the prices of goods and services, he noted.<br />
<br />
To substantiate his argument, Yong, who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President, contended that if the Federal Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was really concerned and cared for the people's wellbeing, it should not have hiked the prices of fuel and power tariff in the first place, which he regarded as the main contributing factor to the current widespread hikes in the price of consumer goods and services.<br />
<br />
Speaking at the annual dinner hosted by SAPP Luyang CLC at the Winner Hotel Friday, Yong observed that the overwhelming mocking of the Prime Minister's comment about the price of kangkung by Netizens in the social media like Facebook, Whatsapp and You Tube demonstrated the people's frustration and suffering over price hikes.<br />
<br />
"The Prime Minister said the people should be thankful to the Government that the price of kangkung has gone down. Who doesn't know that kangkung can be easily found in the drain? Fuel and electricity are the main contributing factor for price hikes. This is simple economics.<br />
<br />
It shows that the Prime Minister is absolutely clueless of the people's plight!" he said.<br />
<br />
Yong continued that the ongoing phenomenon proved SAPP's predictions before the 13th general election that if Barisan Nasional (BN) returns to power, prices of goods and services would be bound to go up, and that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) elected representatives would quit their parties.<br />
<br />
He then recalled that he had before the last election campaign period cautioned PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar and repeated the warning during the campaign period that current Luyang Assemblyman Dr Hiew King Cheu might leave the party (DAP) after the election.<br />
<br />
"Unfortunately, they (PR) still fielded him (Hiew) as a candidate.<br />
<br />
Now, he has not only betrayed the people of Luyang but also the people of Sabah.<br />
<br />
"Hence, it has been proven that SAPP is a credible political party where speaking the truth is part of SAPP's culture," said Yong.<br />
<br />
He continued that although SAPP did not win any seat in the last election, nonetheless it is proud that its dignity and support from its members are intact, unlike the MCA and LDP which are currently still plagued by internal fights.<br />
<br />
Yong also expressed disappointment over the present bunch of state opposition elected representatives, that they do not have the guts to cast a vote of 'no confidence' against the Chief Minister, except for fighting among themselves over the so-called 'opposition leader' post as prevailed in the first State Assembly sitting after the GE13.<br />
<br />
He also quipped that when SAPP was still actively organising the various annual Chinese festivals like the Chinese New Year celebration and the Moon Cake Festival to promote the Chinese cultures and traditions, the other political parties too were clamouring to organise them.<br />
<br />
"But, when SAPP stopped, they too followed," he quipped.<br />
<br />
However, Yong explained that this does not mean that SAPP has quit doing it for good, but was just taking a break since it did not win any seat in the last general election.<br />
<br />
He also assured that SAPP would continue with its struggle for the State and its people.<br />
<br />
<i>Daily Express</i></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-89729714800610879192014-01-19T16:04:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:09:57.853+08:00We are not retreating - Melanie<span style="clear: left; color: navy; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/luyang/140117-dinner-melanie.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></span><b>SAPP may have been washed-out in GE13 but its still retained its dignity unlike peninsular opposition Pakatan Rakyat which has seen defections.</b><br />
<br />
KOTA KINABALU, January 19, 2014: Despite its washout performance in the last general election, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is not about to retreat from the political arena in the state.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Brushing aside speculations by political observers that SAPP is on its last leg, the party’s women’s wing chief Melanie Chia said the rumours were unfounded.<br />
<br />
“SAPP still has the fighting spirit to continue fighting for the people. We are fully aware that there are still unfinished jobs for us,” she told members and supporters at the party’s annual dinner here recently.<br />
<br />
Chia who is former Luyang state representative, attributed SAPP’s whitewash in the 13th general election to voters’ desperation for change which compelled them to choose between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat coalitions without giving consideration to local factors and parties.<br />
<br />
She said the characteristics of the Borneo states were clearly different in every aspect from those in the peninsula states and could not be ignored.<br />
<br />
“For example, we in Sabah are still free to use the word “Allah” but not in Selangor where one can be arrested for uttering the word.<br />
<br />
“Hence, one country, two systems is still applicable and much needed in Sabah,” she said, stressing that this was possible because Sabah is different from the other states in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
Chia also attempted to hammer home the predictions the party had made during the election campaign should the ruling coalition and certain politicians hang on to power as grim truths.<br />
<br />
Among these predictions were that fuel prices and electricity tariffs would be raised as the country’s foreign debts grew.<br />
<br />
She said it could now be seen that even promises by the ruling coalition prior to the election to resolve the perennial issue of flooding in the state was fanciful.<br />
<br />
Chai also took a pokes at critics in the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition who had questioned the credentials of the Sabah-based party.<br />
<br />
“During the last general election campaign period, talk was rife that SAPP would return to BN after the election. Now, look who are the ones who jumped,” she said.<br />
<br />
DAP’s Hiew King Cheu, the current Luyang representative in the state assembly, quit DAP and the opposition coalition and turned BN-friendly months after his election on an opposition platform.<br />
<br />
Two other defectors from the opposition who have declared their support for the BN are PKR’s Kadamaian asssemblyman Jeremy Malajad and state assemblyman Jailani Hamdan of Matunggong.<br />
<br />
Chia also observed that despite Sabah remaining in the BN fold, the state continued to be marginalised and mistreated by national parties and their leaders in Sabah who she said are “still being led by the nose like buffaloes”.<br />
<br />
SAPP, she said, cannot tolerate this and would continue to fight for political autonomy for the state and ensure that the people in Sabah enjoy the resources of the state.<br />
<br />
Also present at the dinner were party president Yong Teck Lee, deputy presidents Eric Majimbun and Liew Teck Chan, secretary-general Richard Yong, vice president Wong Yit Ming, and information chief Chong Pit Fah.<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<i>by Queville To</i><br />
<h3 style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>SAPP still has work to do – Chia</b></span></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/luyang/140117-dinner-group.jpg" height="195" width="600" />KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) still has work to do, work that can only be done by a Sabah-based political party.<br />
<br />
SAPP vice president cum Wanita chief Melanie Chia said the party lost in the 13th General Election (GE13) because of the big environment, whereby people wanted a change of government.<br />
<br />
“The people only saw a two-party system and believed that could work,” she said.<br />
<br />
However, Chia said Sabah still needed a ‘One Country Two Systems’ administration as our State was different, as exemplified by the use of ‘Allah’ in Sabah.<br />
<br />
Chia, who is also SAPP Luyang Central Liaison Committee (CLC) chairwoman, said this during the branch’s Chinese New Year reunion dinner here on Friday. The event was graced by SAPP president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee.<br />
<br />
Chia thanked the members and supporters who attended the reunion dinner because with unity, there is hope.<br />
<br />
“Although we have lost (in GE13), they have not destroyed us. Because SAPP fights for Sabah’s future,” she said.<br />
<br />
Chia pointed out that what the party said during GE13 has turned into reality as national debt continued to increase.<br />
<br />
To counter this, Chia said the government had increased toll rates, revised fuel prices and electricity tariff as well as arranged for the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to increase the government’s revenue.<br />
<br />
“The people’s livelihood problems that were talked about during the GE13 have not been solved,” she said, adding that SAPP would continue to fight for Malaysian citizens in Sabah, including the five per cent oil royalty.<br />
<br />
“During the general election, there were rumours saying that we would return to Barisan Nasional (BN). Did we? But there have been other people who joined (BN after GE13). Who is lying now?” she continued.<br />
<br />
As the Year of Horse approaches, Chia urged the people to stand up for themselves and realize (the situation they are in).<br />
<br />
“The truth never lies. Sabah is marginalized; Sabah is still the poorest (state); our natural resources are still not well managed; we do not get the right return for what we have; we are not treated fairly.<br />
<br />
“If we still allow our destiny to be controlled by parties or people from the west (Malaysia), we will forever be like buffalo kena cucuk hidung (buffalo being pierced on the nose),” said Chia.<i><br /><br /> 19/01/2014 The Borneo Post</i></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-49232390884150187552014-01-16T16:02:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:09:24.414+08:00Explanation of shooting spree unconvincing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/kk/shooting-spree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/kk/shooting-spree.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU, January 16, 2014 (Thur): The police explanation of the shooting spree affecting 46 business premises here as the work of “naughty kids” is too facile, former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee said on Thursday.<br />
<br />
“It even took the police three days to clarify that the widely-circulated photos of two persons handcuffed, sitting on the floor in a police facility, were not that of the shooters in KK.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>“As though it is not worrying enough that the police had no foreknowledge of the shooting spree, the police seem (to be) at a loss, even with the benefit of hindsight and after reviewing evidence gathered,” Yong said.<br />
<br />
He added that it was equally worrisome when the Deputy Inspector General of Police blamed Sabah’s long coast line for possible smuggling of air guns used in the shooting, insinuating that the weapons were brought in from the Philippines.<br />
<br />
“This amounts to a glaring admission that Sabah’s borders are still not sufficiently secured by ESSCOM.<br />
<br />
“If air guns can be smuggled in and used in Kota Kinabalu by organised gangs, then it follows that real guns and bullets can be similarly smuggled into Sabah,” observed Yong who has been vocal about the security situation in the Sabah.<br />
<br />
The apparently random shootings covering an extensive area of Kota Kinabalu and Penampang last weekend have jolted the confidence of those living here and questions are being raised of a bigger threat to Sabah’s security and the peoples’ safety, than what has been claimed by the authorities.<br />
<br />
Yong said the unconvincing police explanation that the incident was the work of “budak nakal” (naughty kids) using air guns that shoot “guli” (marbles) only made the people sceptical about the identity and motive of the shooters.<br />
<br />
“The sooner the police come up with coherent and clear information such as the probable motive of the shooters, the easier it will be for the public to comprehend what is happening and easier for people to spot possible trouble makers and report it to the police,” said Yong.<br />
<br />
CCTV cameras that captured images of the alleged attackers at various premises showed young adults, not teenagers, and dispel the notion that this was the work of “naughty children”.<br />
<br />
“It is safe to conclude that the groups of shooters knew their way driving around the city and had planned and executed the shootings in an organised fashion within a couple of hours, then disappeared.<br />
<br />
“Is there a lapse in information gathering by CIDs, Special Branch, RELA, Civil Defence, JKKKs, JKDBs and other components of the local security network?” asked Yong, a former chairman of the Sabah Security Committee and now the leader of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).<br />
<br />
He alleged that either the police have not been truthful about the information provided or they did not have a clue about what happened that night, right under their noses in the state capital.<br />
<br />
By Queville To<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-57935960096079036412014-01-15T15:58:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:08:23.960+08:00Sabah IC melindungi hak keistimewaan orang Sabah<img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/youth/dagul-sabah-ic.jpg" height="266" width="400" />KOTA KINABALU, Januari 15, 2014: Pendedahan pendatang asing tanpa izin (PTI) yang mendapat Mykad dan seterusnya jadi pengundi di Sabah dilaporkan semasa pendengaran saksi saksi di hadapan Jawatankuasa Suruhanjaya DiRajah (RCI) mengenai masalah PTI di Sabah.<br />
<br />
Pendedahan 60% murid orang asing yang bersekolah di sekolah rendah kerajaan di Putatan adalah manifestasi hak rakyat Sabah semakin diboloti oleh orang asing.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Rakyat Sabah semakin bimbang generasi anak watan sudah tidak menikmati erti kemerdekaan apabila negeri mereka hilang kuasa untuk mempertahankan hak dan kedaulatan negeri Sabah.<br />
Pihak SAPP menuntut laporan RCI yang dikemukakan kepada kerajaan supaya dapat juga dilaporkan kepada orang awam agar kesahihan pemberian Mykad samada melalui Projek IC mahupun melalui sindiket dapat didedahkan secara terbuka.<br />
<br />
Disamping itu rekomendasi RCI untuk mengatasi PTI dan pemberian kewarganegaraan kepada orang asing juga dapat diketahui umum.<br />
<br />
SAPP telah hantar memorandum kepada pihak RCI selepas presiden SAPP diminta oleh RCI kemukakan cadangan bagaimana cara mengatasi masalah PTI yang mendapat Mykad.<br />
<br />
Demi menjaga hak dan kedaulatan rakyat dan negeri Sabah, SAPP telah mencadangkan kepada RCI suatu kaedah untuk mengwujudkan Kad Pengenalan Sabah (Sabah IC) untuk rakyat Sabah yang tulin.<br />
<br />
Cadangan ini juga terkandung dalam Manifesto SAPP pada PRU13.<br />
<br />
Semua urusan kerajaan negeri Sabah seperti permohonan tanah, lesen perniagaan, biasiswa, subsidi kerajaan dan lain lain keistimewaan harus guna Sabah IC.<br />
<br />
Disamping guna Sabah IC rakyat Sabah masih perlu guna Mykad untuk kewarganegaraan.<br />
<br />
Dengan adanya Sabah IC maka dapatlah kita bezakan orang asing yang mempunyai Mykad dengan orang asli Sabah.<br />
<br />
Orang orang semenanjung Malaysia dan Sarawak yang sudah lama menetap di Sabah layak memohon.<br />
<br />
Pengeluaran Sabah IC boleh dilakukan dengan keazaman politik dan berdasarkan hak keistimewaan untuk melindungi hak hak Sabah dalam perjanjian pembentukan Malaysia.<br />
<br />
Oleh Edward Dagul, Ketua Pemuda Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-30127056483587052902014-01-03T15:53:00.000+08:002014-01-26T16:08:08.265+08:00Autonomy call now part of mainstream politics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/constitution/malaysia-agreement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/constitution/malaysia-agreement.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU, January 3, 2014: The autonomy call has now become part of the mainstream politics in Sabah, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee, Thursday.<br />
<br />
He said this development seems like a breakthrough as the trend "autonomy" ideals continue to surge in Sabah and Sarawak.<br />
<br />
"Every political party and some nongovernmental organisations are forced to trumpet 'autonomy' as their platform.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
"Any party that dreams of winning the hearts and minds of Sabahans now must at least promise autonomy to Sabah," he said.<br />
<br />
As a result, Yong said no political parties dared to speak against the autonomy, including peninsula parties, at present despite SAPP all this while was championing this cause after it left Barisan Nasional in 2008. He said the situation now is a stark contrast of what it was, five years ago at a time when SAPP began to trump on autonomy.<br />
<br />
For doing so, SAPP had been criticised by Umno, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Democratic Action Party, saying the idea was not possible, he added."<br />
<br />
Today these realities have been made possible due to the State's political strength that it determines the party that can form the Federal Government.<br />
<br />
And for the Prime Minister to declare that the State's autonomy is guaranteed in the spirit of 20 Points and according to the Malaysia Agreement, he explained.<br />
<br />
"The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has made this declaration while campaigning in April 2013 in Keningau, where the Malaysia Day Oath Stone is located. The Pakatan leaders too have made similar pledges on autonomy, even if it was only lip-service," he said.<br />
<br />
Yong said Sabahans yearn for the reinstatement of autonomy, self-governing; status and being equal to Malaya, as how it was pledged in the spirit of Malaysia Agreement 1963.<br />
<br />
"There is a widening polarisation along religious and racial lines in Malaya and failures in the economic management of the country with spiralling prices, education system, immigration with the influx of illegal immigrants and a host of other issues that Malaya lost its moral authority over Sabah and as masters," he said.<br />
<br />
Without having self-governing an as long as local leaders continue to be subservient to Kuala Lumpur, he said Sabah has no prospect in finding effective solutions to these long-standing problems.<br />
<br />
03/01/2014 Daily ExpressUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-20782385264979280682013-12-10T16:04:00.002+08:002013-12-10T16:05:21.066+08:00Foundation donates to Seri Mengasih, Good Shepherd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/edu/pef2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/edu/pef2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
KOTA KINABALU, December 7, 2013: The Progressive Education Foundation (PEF) yesterday presented cheques to Seri Mengasih and the Good Shepherd Rural Community Development at its chairman's office in Wisma Sabah.<br />
<br />
Council member Melanie Chia, who was representing the chairman of the foundation's board of trustee and management council, Tan Sri Thomas Jayasuriya, said the amount presented to the Sekolah Seri Mengasih was RM5.200; whine the Good Shepherd Rural Community received RM5,000.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
"Since the incorporation of PEF, the total sponsorship to Sekolah Seri Mengasih to date amounts to RM221.800," she said.<br />
<br />
Chia added that the sponsorship for Sekolah Seri Mengasih over the years was towards the Advance Certificate Course in Connunity Services (Disability) for Special Education Teachers conducted by the NewZealand Christchurch College of Education in Kota Kinabalu; TEACH ME 10th Anniversary Conference on "Integration is a way of life" held in Singapore; International Conference on "Learning and the Brain" co-organised by the Centre with nine other government and corporate bodies in Kota Kinabalu; the two weeks training cum exposure trip to Kololo Centre (specialised Autism Training Centre) in Tokyo, Japan: International Conference on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 2011 and other workshops on autistic children for teachers.<br />
<br />
“The long term support by PEF to Sekolah Seri Mengasih confirms the objective of the PEF to promote and develop education in all aspects. It was with this in view that a new sponsorship is to be given to Good Shepherd Rural Community Development this year to support their outreach programmes to the rural community and youth programmes in Sabah," he said.<br />
<br />
Present to receive the cheques were Beatrice Wong representing the Good Shepherd Rural Community and Monica Chua, from Sekolah Seri Mengasih.<br />
<br />
Also present at the event was Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin, Sabah Tourism Board chairman cum council member of PEF.<br />
<br />
Pic: Tengku Adlin (fourth left) presenting the donations to Monica (third right) and Beatrice (second left).<br />
<br />
The Borneo Post (07/12/2013)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-51139660614779791072013-08-05T17:56:00.003+08:002013-08-05T17:56:53.303+08:00Sarawak recalls loss of country's sovereignty<h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bolder; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<img align="left" border="0" height="240" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/constitution/sarawak-independence.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px;" width="320" /></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
The planned Borneo Heritage Foundation's activities to commemorate Sarawak independence day on 22 July 2013 is a welcome step forward in the long march for Sarawak independence.<br />
<br />
The question is: Was this real independence or was it only a brief illusion?<br />
<br />
Sarawak was an independent kingdom ruled by the English Brooke family from 1841 to 1941. Its statehood and identity as a sovereign country was first recognised by the USA in 1850 and then Britain in 1863, long before Malaya's independence in 1957.<br />
<br />
Over 100 years Sarawak evolved into a unique fusion of a western style monarchy with an eastern flavour.<br />
<br />
The rulers were however not seen as despotic but as benevolent custodians of this once pluralist Christian majority country.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
On Sarawak's centenary celebrations of its statehood in 1941, the last Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke proclaimed a new State Constitution. The Constitution's Preamble set out the famous "9 Cardinal Principles" affirming the Sarawak people's right to succeed to a democratic, secular and pluralist society and state. This document is far superior to the race/religion based Malayan apartheid "constitution" which was imposed on Sabah and Sarawak in 1963. The 9 Cardinal Principles formed the framework for both Sarawak and Sabah's respective 18 and 20 Points Agreements as terms and condition for the formation of Malaysia, which Malaya signed and quickly and conveniently forgotten.<br />
<br />
But in reality Sarawak (like Sabah) has remained a colony for 72 years since the Japanese occupation from December 1941 to August 1945. It briefly regained independence before cession to Britain in 1946 and then again on 22 July 1963.<br />
<br />
Independence on 22 July was illusory as 56 days later Sarawak was annexed with Sabah into Malaysia under the ironic slogan of "independence in Malaysia" on 16 September 1963 without any U.N. Referendum against the background of popular resistance seen in the anti-Malaysia Brunei Uprising (1962) and the Sarawak independence guerrilla war (1962 to 1990).<br />
<br />
By 1965 the Malayan Prime Minister was openly calling Sabah and Sarawak the 13th and 14th states of "Malaysia". He had so unashamedly departed from what he declared in 1962 that they would never make Sabah and Sarawak colonies of Malaya.<br />
<br />
In 1965 the original Malaysia concept of 5 countries as equal partners was dead when Singapore left the union over UMNO's move to become the dominate partner instead of honouring the equal partner status for all the members of the Malaysia federation. This also saw both Sarawak first CM Stephen K Ningkan and Sabah first CM Donald Stephens resisting Kuala Lumpur attempts to centralise control over these 2 countries. In Sarawak CM Ningkan had actively canvassed for support to separate from Malaysia and even Tun Mustapha had made moves to take Sabah out of Malaysia.<br />
<br />
Kuala Lumpur acted quickly to stop the separation moves by sacking Ningkan and then Stephens resigned in disgust over UMNO's overt attempts to dominate. The removal of any "separatist" leadership allowed UMNO to install their chosen proxy rulers the Sarawak Rahman/Taib clique and pro-UMNO Sabah elites like Harris and Tun Mustapha in power. The declaration of a "state of emergency" cemented UMNO's hold over the 2 new colonies with its occupation army still fighting Borneo independence fighters.<br />
<br />
Over 50 years under the new colonial rule, UMNO turned Sabah and Sarawak into its resources centres plundering their vast oil and other resources to develop Malaya and enriched so many UMNO elites and cronies and reducing the 2 countries to be the poorest vassals states of Malaya. They remain mere colonies.<br />
<br />
This very much reminds us of Rajah Charles Brooke's 1917 prophetic farewell speech when he strongly warned the Dayak people not to be cheated of their heritage - their land as otherwise they would become "coolies" in their own land. Today many see these words becoming true as the ruling elites mercilessly seized and exploited native land to enrich themselves by dispossessing and making destitute thousands of the once self sufficient native people. These people have no choice but become a cheap workforce for the very people who plundered their land and resources. The current proxy local ruling elites have openly called them "squatters".<br />
<br />
Thus the last 50 years must bear witness to how much we have lost since the 22 July 1963 independence date by the fact that we do not yet enjoy real independence.<br />
<br />
The loss of our land and country is the loss of our sovereignty.<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
WikiSabah News</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-39756563527054267972013-05-03T15:32:00.002+08:002013-08-05T17:55:14.661+08:00GE13: Yong counters lies by rivals at Foh Sang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfPUCmktZyE/UYIYlCrx01I/AAAAAAAAP8k/3c0wro0kjdg/s1600/130501-fohsang3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfPUCmktZyE/UYIYlCrx01I/AAAAAAAAP8k/3c0wro0kjdg/s320/130501-fohsang3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Hiew King Cheu fled scene; Junz Wong sat frozen; Christina Liew ruffled while Chong Eng Leong could only mumble a meek denial</b><br />
<br />
A first-person account by Alexander Chen<br />
<br />
KOTA KINABALU: Fed up with the ‘guerrilla tactics’ of his rivals, in particular the DAP, SAPP chief, Datuk Yong Teck Lee did what any gentleman would do and confront them, face to face.<br />
<br />
At the Foh Sang car park where Pakatan Rakyat was holding its ceramah Wednesday night, Yong did a surprise show-up, stunning his opponents who had been bad-mouthing him and the SAPP the whole night.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
At six minutes past nine o’clock, coolly walking up to where Chong Eng Leong and other local PR leaders were, Yong confronted the former Senator, who had earlier, once again, implicated the ex-Chief Minister as being involved in Project IC (also known as Project Dr M) – where foreigners were allegedly given Malaysian identity cards.<br />
<br />
Yong sat down next to Chong to get an explanation and the good old surgeon meekly said he did not implicate Yong and would go on stage again to make the denial.<br />
<br />
The moment he saw Yong, a stunned Hiew King Chiu bolted to another corner of the car park, holding a mike and yelling Ini Kali Lah, Ini Kali Lah, while another DAP candidate, Junz Wong sat frozen to his seat, noticeably pale despite the poor lighting.<br />
<br />
Junz, the DAP man facing Yong in Likas, had earlier in the day described his opponent as “a man with no integrity”.<br />
<br />
But given the opportunity to tell that to Yong straight to his face, Junz must have wished that a hole could appear at that moment to swallow him up. He sat down quietly, a nervous fidgety wreck.<br />
<br />
This caused someone in the crowd to snigger, “if like this how then is he going to perform at the State assembly (if elected), must less give a speech in a Dewan dominated by UMNO men, led by the indomitable Samsuddin (Yahya of Sekong) the old adversary of Junz’ boss, Jimmy Wong”.<br />
<br />
Yong also demanded that he be given the chance to go on stage to answer to all the lies his rivals had been making behind his back, but Fred Fung, the DAP man handling Hiew’s campaign refused, apparently on orders from his boss.<br />
<br />
In his talk, the former Senator allegedly accused Yong of being involved in a scheme to issue identity cards to foreigners. When confronted Wednesday, he gave a feeble denial.<br />
<br />
All this while, a female mc kept screaming into the microphone asking the deejay to play loud music and she was obliged when ‘gangnam’ style music came on the air, prompting Christina’s dance squad to go on stage.<br />
<br />
Later Christina (PKR – Api Api) Edwin Bosi (DAP – Kapayan) and Hamid Ismail (PAS – Tanjung Aru) made their brief speeches before moving on to other places.<br />
<br />
Throughout, Yong kept insisting he be allowed to go on stage to give his side of the story and to allow Eng Leong to make his clarification. But neither was allowed.<br />
<br />
A couple of “tough guys” were at the side of Eng Leong to make sure he did not get to rise, while other hired guns stood nearby.<br />
<br />
Police came in to cool tempers down and some 45 minutes later, Yong left, but not without telling Eng Leong that if PR did not allow him to clarify on their stage, he was always welcome to join the SAPP ceramah, some 100 meters away.<br />
<br />
Chong Eng Leong never showed up.<br />
<br />
An SAPP official is believed to have video-taped the entire proceeding, including recording Eng Leong’s denial about Yong being involved with Project IC.<br />
<br />
One wonders why the police allowed two opposition ceramah to be held in the same area at the same time, knowing that it was potentially an explosive situation – knowing both sides were not on the same wavelength.<br />
<br />
Later at his own party’s ceramah, Yong explained that he only wanted a chance to make a reply to the lies being spread about him and SAPP.<br />
<br />
He said Sabah PKR leader, Chong En Leong was ready to go to the stage to clarify that Yong was not involved but the DAP elections director, Fred Fung did not allow it. Others like Hieu King Chiew and Christina Liew also refused to allow him to speak.<br />
<br />
He told supporters that PKR chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was in the know of Project IC in Sabah as he was the deputy prime minister in 1994 when he was Sabah Barisan Nasional elections director.<br />
<br />
“Why are they blaming me when Anwar knows it all? Chong is so close to (former chief minister) Osu Sukam and he knows it all too,” Yong said.<br />
<br />
Yong said SAPP will fight and win on the truth. – with additional reporting by Matthias Hermes and Linda Peters<br />
<br />
<i>Borneo Insider News</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-71217981310336885182013-05-02T19:01:00.002+08:002013-05-02T19:01:40.107+08:00Name the "3 opposition leaders"!<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bolder; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<img align="left" border="0" height="213" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/lahadatu/Felda2.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder;" width="320" /></h3>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
Yong Teck Lee (April 30, 2103)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
Ever since the irresponsible "startling disclosure" by the defence minister that 3 opposition leaders were involved in the Philippine Sulu incursion last February, several enquiries have been directed at me by people who wonder if the "one Sabah opposition leader" were me.<br />
<br />
As a matter of fact, I have been speaking on this subject of the Philippine Sulu incursion at KK, Tawau and Sandakan. I displayed Philippine territorial maps in which Sabah is visible. The maps, bought in the Philippine book shops years ago, are a constant reminder to Filipinos about the place called Sabah/North Borneo. It is relevant that the maps do not label Sabah (Malaysia) but merely Sabah (North Borneo). The maps keep open the issue of the Sabah claim in the mindset of Filipinos.<br />
<br />
But when the defence minister out of the blue and without details made the startling claim publicly that a Sabah opposition leader is involved in the Philippine incursion, instantly I got queries and even from an international media. In order to clear any shadow of doubt before the polling day, I had wanted the defence minister to retract the "disclosure" or else to name the "3 opposition leaders".</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
The defence minister's "disclosure" has casted a heavy psychological burden on me and indeed very worrying. Realising how lies and trumped up charges have been used before to discredit opposition leaders, I have every reason to be concerned.<br />
<br />
This is because I have been informed that recently there was indeed a report to the police that I was involved, partly financed and met the leaders of the intruders, including one of the Kiram family, in Kota Kinabalu last year. If true, the involvement in the Philippine Sulu incursion is treason against the country and war against the Agong which is punishable by death.<br />
<br />
I am not involved in any way whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly. I have never met any member of the Kiram clan in Sabah or anywhere else. All contacts that I had with the Philippines authorities, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and MNLF leader Nur Misuari were under the purview of the National Security Council when I was the Sabah Security Committee Chairman (and Chief Minister). Any subsequent contacts that I had later with the Philippine ambassador and officials relate to the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah, not the Sabah Claim. I have already made this clear to the top ranking police officer from Bukit Aman when I was first hauled up for investigation earlier this month. I even turned down attempts by a senior official of the Philippine foreign ministry, who was ambassador to Malaysia during my term as Chief Minister, to meet me in the aftermath of the Sulu incursion.<br />
<br />
Due to the sensitive nature of the case and in order not to jeopardise ongoing investigations, I had kept this investigation to myself. But when the defence minister publicly made the allegation of a Sabah opposition leader being involved, I am truly concerned that the false allegation has been laid to discredit and to nail me very soon. After all there are not that many Sabah opposition leaders; much less Sabah leaders speaking on the Philippine Sulu incursions and its long term implications.<br />
<br />
If there is no retraction or identifying the Sabah opposition leader concerned, then I have no choice but to make public my innocence against the false allegations about me and remove all doubts in the minds of the people and the security forces and police. This I will do on Wednesday, May 1 evening, although it is already too late for the benefit of the security forces and police who have casted their votes by May 1.<br />
<br />
It is no coincidence that the defence minister had made the "disclosure" on the eve of postal balloting by the security forces who had to bear the brunt of the Philippine Sulu incursion. The defence minister is guilty of playing politics with national security.<br />
<br />
Yong Teck Lee, President of SAPPUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-26087399949291768102013-05-02T19:00:00.002+08:002013-05-02T19:00:24.166+08:00Young KDM voters backing SAPP<h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bolder; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
<img align="left" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/kepayan/samson.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder;" width="450" /></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
PENAMPANG, May 2, 2013: Young voters are now throwing their support for Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), the biggest local based opposition party in Sabah.<br />
<br />
It is obvious when the young Sabahans joining SAPP in droves.<br />
<br />
The latest is a group of young Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) voters who believe that only a Sabah-based political party could bring about prosperity to the people and the State. (<i>Pic - Samson handing over membership application forms to Chong Pit Fah</i>)<br />
<br />
"Me and many of my friends have weighed the pros and cons between Sabah-based political party and Malaya-based political party for the past few months. And we have found out that only a Sabah-based political party could serve Sabah better," said Samson Aaron Malinggang when he submitted dozens of membership application forms to SAPP candidate for N.19 Kapayan State constituency, Chong Pit Fah, at Kampung Kobusak, here.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
Samson said a Sabah Government headed by Sabah-based political party with full autonomy could administer Sabah smoothly minus Kuala Lumpur interferences.<br />
<br />
He said Sabah is rich with natural resources such as petroleum and gas but ended up poor due to the draining out of its wealth to Malaya.<br />
<br />
He added that what makes matter worst was the high rate of jobless among youths in which Sabah registered the highest in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
"Not only jobs are scarce but we, the local youths have to compete with foreigners," he said blaming Kuala Lumpur controlled Barisan Nasional Government for causing hardship to Sabah.<br />
<br />
He said Kuala Lumpur meddling in Sabah's administration and their insincerity to address the perennial illegal immigrants problem has led Sabah to her lowest.<br />
<br />
Samson said he and his friends support SAPP struggle for autonomy because only a Sabah Government with autonomy able to run the State smoothly.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Pit Fah said SAPP was glad with the changes of the young voters' mindset.<br />
<br />
He said the support was a manifestation that the young generation has understood the need for an autonomous Sabah Government.<br />
<br />
He added that a SAPP Sabah Government with its autonomy would definitely able to bring about the needed changes in all aspects.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3980934123916550972.post-14007326867523128802013-05-02T18:59:00.002+08:002013-05-02T18:59:23.640+08:00"I will not betray the people of Sabah"<img align="left" border="0" height="320" src="http://www.sapp.org.my/images/ge13/yong-teck-lee-likas.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px;" width="232" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;">
KOTA KINABALU: "I will not betray the trust of the people of Sabah no matter what happens," said the president of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Datuk Yong Teck Lee in a campaign speech in Luyang, yesterday.<br />
<br />
He reiterated his stand that he and his party will not return to BN regardless of the election results. This, he said, because he did not want to betray the trust and support given by the people to him.<br />
<br />
Accordingly, Yong, a former Sabah Chief Minister urged the people to examine and analyze the facts alleged by political opponents who accuse him of some seemingly sabotaged belief by taking of the alleged money.<br />
<br />
He was responding to rumors and lies by two former SAPP leaders (now DAP) who claimed that he received a sum of RM80 million from Datuk Seri Musa Aman allocated to opposition parties to divide the electorate vote. Yong vehemently denied having received any money from Musa.<br />
<br />
"I urge people to examine the allegations and think rationally whether Musa would act dumb to finance his opponent in order to win the election," he said.<br />
<br />
Rumours have it, the two former SAPP leaders, then SAPP Supreme Council Member Jimmy Wong and Hiew King Cheu claimed Yong received a portion of RM80 million allocated by Musa to the opposition in the state, seen as strategy to split the opposition vote and to make sure that BN wins election. Yong asks Hiew to confront him in the ceramah or a public debate to clarify this wild allegation if he has any conscience himself.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
Jimmy Wong will compete on the DAP ticket for the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat while Hiew stands for the state DUN seat of Luyang.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Yong said Sabah need bold and experienced leaderships to raise and to settle local issues such as the illegal immigration, Project IC and so on.<br />
<br />
"These problems need to be addressed with bold and effectiveness because it has long been haunting the peacefulness of the people in the state. People are not satisfied with the way the government addresses this issue because it affects all aspects of life of the people of Sabah, " he said.<br />
<br />
SAPP is a multi-ethnic party based in Sabah. SAPP was established in January 21, 1994 by Datuk Yong Teck Lee and former PBS leaders.<br />
<br />
SAPP was once one of the BN component parties. It won two seats in parliament (Sepanggar and Tawau) in an election on March 8, 2008. It is very vocal in its demands on autonomy for Sabah and problem solving on illegal immigrants and Project IC.<br />
<br />
Accordingly, he requested a mandate from voters to form a government that would be fair, transparent and deal with rampant corruption in the country. He also reiterated that SAPP does not rely on federal Government to operate and survive so are 90% of the Chinese community.<br />
<br />
In order for the people to know more about the party, Yong invites voters to ask any question to him in any of the talks or ceramah that will be organized by SAPP.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, on the same occasion, SAPP parliamentary candidate for Sepanggar, Chin Hon Kiong said Sabah BN lied when they (BN) said they will respect and implement the 20-point, Malaysia Agreement.<br />
<br />
"Actually BN ignored the Agreement. They are not honest in providing fair and equitable treatment to the people of Sabah. Therefore, I urge people not to believe the BN¡¯s empty promises. "<br />
<br />
For example, BN lied when they failed to mention in their Manifesto about the Cabotage Policy which caused the living standards in Sabah among the highest in Malaysia and this shows UMNO / BN never serious in their will to solve problems involving the living standard of people in the state.<br />
<br />
Malaysia PM, Najib had promised to give the largest allocation of more than 20% of oil royalty for Sabah promised by the opposition parties, in which Chin argued that it was the federal government's responsibility to allocate development funds to each state and this has nothing to do with the 20% oil royalties demanded by SAPP.<br />
<br />
"He actually tried to deceive the people once again," he said.<br />
<br />
He said if SAPP gets mandate from the people after the General Election on May 5, it will fulfil all the promises made in the manifesto, including land reforming, repeal laws NCR made by the BN government, reissue land titles from 99 to 999, reclaim Sabah Autonomy and Sabah IC Project problems.<br />
<br />
According to Chin, the BN government has never been serious about solving problems on Project IC even after former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir admitted his involvement in it. BN also has never gave any suggestion on ways to solve the problem and merely using the RCI and to delay it from resolved.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0