Don’t get angry, SAPP tells peninsular-based parties

KOTA KINABALU (Sept 1): Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee reiterated the party’s stand that non-Sabah-based parties should stay out of the coming state election.

“Our stand is and will continue to be that only Sabah-based parties contest in the state election, we will talk about the parliamentary election when the time comes. We do not want them (peninsular-based parties) to get angry but that is our stand, (so) respect our view.

“However, if they want to contest, we cannot stop them as they have the legal right to do so. It will then be up to the people,” he said when met by reporters after officiating SAPP’s biennial delegates conference 2024 here today.

Yong who was asked to comment on Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Sabah Umno not sharing the same view as SAPP, replied that ultimately, the people will decide who they vote for.

“This is not a new idea as it is an old proposal about non-local parties that is consistent with MA63. Now we have one party from Sarawak so together with the parties from Peninsular, they should not interfere in the Sabah politics by contesting in Sabah elections.

“Under the law, they can still contest. But we say our view … there is no need for some of our friends from Peninsular Malaysia to become so angry and start scolding people and start labeling people.

“We put forward our view that in state elections, let state parties contest because if you let non-local parties contest, either Peninsular or from Sarawak, then you already interfere in Sabah politics.

“So that’s our stand. No need to get so excited. No need to get angry … some of the responses from our friends from Peninsular are quite angry. No need to get angry,” he said.

Commenting on GRS chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s statement that the coalition is open to cooperation, Yong pointed out that SAPP stands firm by its stand that only local parties should contest in the state election.

“It is nothing new, nothing confidential … It’s our stand, please respect our stand.

“I believe, eventually, this argument will be won. I believe, eventually, non-local party or party Malaya will stay out of state elections,” he said.

The nominated assemblyman who was asked about SAPP’s membership with Pakatan Nasional (PN), said that the party is still with the coalition.

“We are still members (and) we told PN members, don’t contest in Sabah,” he said.
Yong said PN was not happy with SAPP’s request but he is unfazed as that is SAPP’s view with regards to the state election.

SAPP had in 2022 said that as a member of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), it would contest under the Sabah coalition of parties’ logo in the state election.

“In 2022 we announced in Sandakan that SAPP will contest under GRS’ logo, not PN and we will still be contesting under GRS’ logo again in the coming state election,” he said.

To the question of seats SAPP would like to contest in, Yong said the party had identified a few areas where it has the potential to contest for GRS, and also the areas where SAPP need to strengthen as a supporting party to the GRS candidates who are not from the SAPP.

Seats allocations for the coming election have yet to be discussed formally among the political parties in Sabah including GRS, he added.