Sabah PKR questions PPBM’s plan to enter Sabah
Published on: Friday, February 15, 2019
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR has questioned the timing and purpose of PPBM’s plan to enter Sabah, saying the party actually has no business to be in the State as it is already well governed by Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) and its partners.
Its Vice Chairman Kenny Chua (pic) said PPBM should honour its word of not spreading its wings to Sabah and let the State be governed by Warisan and its allies.
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“The question everyone asking is, why now? Why must PPBM enter Sabah now?” he told reporters when hosting a Chinese New Year open house in Menggatal, Thursday.
Chua, who is also Inanam Assemblyman and State Assistant Finance Minister, insisted that PPBM should just stay out of Sabah which is already in good hands of the existing coalition of political parties.
“We’re happy to be working with Warisan and DAP in Sabah. So, I sincerely think that PPBM should consider not coming to the State.
“No doubt PPBM is Pakatan Harapan’s partner. But that’s in Peninsular Malaysia. At this moment, here in Sabah, we’re happy to be working with Warisan,” he added.
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Certain groups supportive of PPBM’s move have claimed that the party would help strengthen the Warisan-led State Government’s leadership by providing check and balance.
“We appreciate the effort. But we’re good for now. I also think that Sabahans are wiser now for we have had enough with all this divide and rule tactic of those former BN and Umno leaders,” said Chua, adding that PPBM’s image would suffer if it comes to Sabah and accepts former Sabah Umno leaders into their fold.
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He said it would not make sense to the voters if the party takes in the very same people from a regime they tried so hard to defeat in the last general election.
Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had repeatedly expressed his hope that PPBM would not set foot in Sabah.
He had said it was agreed before the May general election last year that Warisan would take on Barisan Nasional in Sabah with DAP and PKR.
In December, PPBM Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said the party had no plans to set foot in Sabah but said Sabahans were welcome to join.
But recently, he was reported to have said that PPBM has yet to decide whether to spread its wings to the State.
And few days ago, the Prime Minister reportedly laughed off concerns expressed by Shafie over the party’s expansion, saying it was up to the PPBM leadership to decide.
Political observers believe the move has to do with the party wanting to bring on board former Sabah Umno elected representatives who are currently party-less.
They also believe it is part of PPBM’s plan to beef up its ranks in Parliament, as evidenced by the party’s acceptance of seven former Umno MPs recently, which, however, has caused disappointment within Pakatan Harapan.
Former Sabah Umno Chief cum Sulaman Assemblyman Datuk Hajiji Noor recently expressed confidence that PPBM will eventually set foot in Sabah despite having given the assurance that it would honour its agreement with Warisan.
He expected this to happen any time soon.
Meanwhile, Sabah DAP Chairman Datuk Stephen Wong said PPBM should comply with the agreement between it and the Warisan-led State Government.
“With Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as the new Chief Minister of Sabah, there is no need for extra ‘manpower’ to administer the State as the current leadership is doing an outstanding job,” he said.
“Of course, I am not in favour of such action (PPBM spreading its wings to Sabah). As I have mentioned before, so far our Chief Minister is doing well. He has been setting out a lot of directions and transforming Sabah to the right track.
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