KOTA KINABALU: It is the right of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) to tell its own members over the party’s stand regarding the state election, says Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee.
In a response to Sabah DAP’s criticism over his proposal for only local parties to contest the next state election, the SAPP president said he was speaking to his party members during one of its branches' annual general meeting.
"Our party members who have been loyal and dedicated have the right to know the party stand," he said in a statement here on Tuesday (Aug 15).
"We will of course engage with our partners in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)," he added.
He issued the statement after Sabah DAP secretary Phoong Jin Zhe on Monday (Aug 14) contended that Yong was trying to destabilise both the federal and state governments by sowing discord among GRS and Pakatan Harapan.
"As SAPP is still within Perikatan Nasional, its agenda is clear and I believe the people will judge for themselves," Phoong said.
Speaking after a SAPP function here on Sunday (Aug 13), Yong, who is also GRS deputy chairman, said that peninsula-based parties should not contest in the state election due in 2025.
The nominated assemblyman said only local-based parties should contest the 73 state seats as it was a state election.
He said he would propose to the GRS leadership that friendly parties including Pakatan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan to stay out of the race, adding this was to avoid any overlapping of candidates.
On Phoong’s comments, Yong said every political party had its core principle.
"SAPP's core principle on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Sabah autonomy is very clear.
"Phoong should know, the right to make one's party policy clear is not the exclusive monopoly of DAP.
"The news on SAPP contesting using the GRS symbol and on GRS candidates have got nothing to do with Phoong. Why was he overreacting?" he asked.
Yong added it was instead fair of Sabah DAP’s Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin to say that the proposal by SAPP to GRS to contest all 73 seats was entirely for SAPP and their partners in GRS to speak about.
"Phoong should have not interfered," he said.
Chan had said only Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had the final say on the political formula to be applied by the ruling state coalition in the next state election, regardless of opinions by other component parties.
SAPP was one of the seven component parties of GRS, which helmed the state government that also included Sabah Pakatan parties.
It was also part of the Perikatan coalition at the federal level, with Yong being the coalition deputy chairman.
Following his remarks on the state election, Yong received backlash including from Sabah Perikatan chairman Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee who wanted the SAPP president to explain his statement to the opposition coalition.
Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin also took aim at Yong, saying it was absurd for a former chief minister to even make such a suggestion.
