SAPP unrepentant in show-cause reply

KOTA KINABALU, July 29 — The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) remained unrepentant in its reply today to a Barisan Nasional show-cause letter, saying it will stick to its decision to move or support a no-confidence motion against Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi unless the Prime Minister resolves issues in its eight-point declaration.

"The statements we have made follow the failure of the Prime Minister to take action on matters brought up by the SAPP to him. The Sabah people are not satisfied with the failure to take action to solve the issues," SAPP secretary-general Datuk Richard Yong said in a letter dated July 29 and sent by facsimile at 4pm to BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

"Until action is taken on the matters contained in the 'Declaration of the people of Sabah for change in the country', we stress that we will repeat and continue our plan to support a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," he wrote, appending the declaration with the letter.

Tengku Adnan said the 14-member BN will hold a management committee meeting on Aug 6 to decide on SAPP's affiliation. The ruling coalition can either issue a warning, suspend or sack the party, which contributes two MPs and a deputy chief minister in Sabah.

Late yesterday, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the letter would be sent via courier, the way it was received, exactly 30 days for the party to explain its actions. “The contents of the reply will be to reiterate the reasons for the no-confidence vote on the prime minister, the eight-point declaration and that we maintain our stand," said the former Sabah chief minister.

"It is up to BN to take whatever action on us. SAPP is ready for any consequences," he told reporters after meeting party members and supporters here last night.

On June 20, the SAPP supreme council endorsed the decision to support a vote of no confidence against Abdullah, but no decision was made to pull out from the BN coalition.

The declarations endorsed by the SAPP supreme council, among others, were that the government shall be people-centric based on good governance and civil society, and non-racial politics based on a progressive, just and harmonious society; that Sabah shall have political autonomy whereby the government shall be formed and run by the people of Sabah; that Sabah and other oil-producing states shall be entitled to a 20 per cent petroleum royalty and that the Labuan Federal Territory be returned to Sabah and be governed as a special region.

Meanwhile, Yong also said that throughout the 30-day period, SAPP was not invited to three BN meetings, on June 19, 24 and 26, and felt it was improper, adding that "it was as though we (SAPP) were no longer part of the coalition."

-TMI