PETALING JAYA: The continued insensitive attitude of the Government towards serious issues in Sabah is the main reason Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) decided to move a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
Its president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the party had to make a stand before the “window of opportunity” closed by August after which Sabah would be forgotten again.
“The nation’s attention will switch to MCA and Umno elections, people will be pre-occupied with the fasting month, Hari Raya, school exams and year-end events,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
“Political fatigue in the national mainstream over 'Sabah-Sabah-Sabah' issues will set in.”
He said the momentum for Sabah to recover autonomy, obtain 20% oil royalties instead of the present five per cent and the return of Labuan would be lost.
“Unfair federal laws, excessive taxes and structural imbalances in the economy will remain entrenched. Sabah will remain the poorest state subservient to central leadership.
“The illegal immigrant problem will reach boiling point.
“With our political move, SAPP hereby initiates the political process to claim 20% in oil royalties, which is after the all the natural resource of Sabah,” he added.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/18/nation/20080618205211&sec=nation]
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Yong: Enough is enough - The Star
PM Says Teck Lee Acted Out Of Personal Greed - Bernama
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee's latest action has been due to the fact that "I have not been able to satisfy his personal greed."
Abdullah did not elaborate. However, his aides told Bernama that the prime minister would elaborate at a later date.
Yong declared in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday that his party had lost confidence in Abdullah.
Of late, the former Sabah chief minister has been critical of Abdullah's political decisions on Sabah as well as the move to increase fuel prices.
[From http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=340359]
Malaysian prime minister faces no-confidence vote in new political threat after polls - AP
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (AP) -- A party in Malaysia's ruling coalition said Wednesday it plans to seek a vote of no-confidence against the prime minister in an unprecedented act of rebellion that could force him to resign or call for new elections.
The Sabah Progressive Party, a member of the 14-party ruling National Front coalition, said its two federal legislators would back a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when Parliament resumes Monday.
"We have lost confidence in the prime minister of Malaysia," party leader Yong Teck Lee told a news conference in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state on Borneo island.
The lawmakers must first convince Parliament's speaker to allow a no-confidence vote, but their biggest challenge will be getting enough legislators to support the motion. Prominent opposition politician Lim Kit Siang said a no-confidence motion needs a minimum 14-day notice so it can't be voted on Monday.
The move would be a first in Malaysia's political history: No Malaysian prime minister has ever faced a vote of no-confidence presented by a member of his own coalition before.
The National Front has 140 lawmakers in the 222-member Parliament, enough to defeat any vote against Abdullah. But after the front's dismal performance in March 8 elections - largely blamed on Abdullah's leadership - there is no guarantee that all ruling coalition lawmakers would want to protect him.
[More at http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MALAYSIA_POLITICS?SITE=WIJAN&SECTION=EUROPE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT]
Sultan to PAS: Call off protest or I call off matches - The Star
By Wong Chun Wai
SHAH ALAM: An upset Sultan of Selangor has threatened to call off future Sultan of Selangor Cup matches between his state and Singapore if the protest by the state PAS Youth against two artistes performing for the event went ahead.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah described the protest over rock queen Ella and dangdut singer Mas Idayu as “hypocritical” and “trivial”.
He said there were more important issues that the party could focus on.
“If this is going to be so difficult, we might as well hold this annual event in Singapore. I am sure they will be more than happy to play host,” he told The Star yesterday.
On Monday, Selangor PAS Youth submitted a memoradum to the Selangor Mentri Besar’s office to protest against plans to have Ella and Mas Idayu perform at the match on July 6.
State PAS Youth chief Sallehen Mokhyi said the movement felt that performances by the singers were inappropriate as it would be attended by many youngsters.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/18/nation/21582000&sec=nation]
