SAPP angered by DAP ultimatum
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang is accused of being insensitive and arrogant for saying that only Pakatan will be able to bring change to Sabah.
(Free Malaysia Today) – A public tiff has broken out between the local opposition in Sabah and the Pakatan Rakyat national coalition ahead of possible snap general election that may be called this year.
The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has rapped PR leaders for being arrogant for taking a “you are either with us or against us” approach with the local party ahead of the next general election.
SAPP vice president Dullie Marie, said the party was upset with a speech by DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang at a Harvest Festival celebration organized by Sabah DAP on Friday where he called on the local party to join PR.
Lim had said that SAPP was being unrealistic in being independent in its bid to topple the BN government at state and national level.
His comments angered SAPP president Yong Teck Lee and several senior leaders who were present at the occasion. In an immediate response earlier, Yong expressed surprise and regret over Lim’s remarks which he (Yong) described as harsh.
In a scathing statement issued here today, Dullie who is also SAPP Putatan chief too was of the opinion that Lim was being insensitive and arrogant for saying that only PR would be able to bring change to Sabah.
“He (Lim) completely ignored the existence of local parties. Lim should remember without Sabah and Sarawak there won’t be a Malaysia today.
“I would like to remind Lim Kit Siang and other leaders from Semenanjung, they should be more sensitive of what they say. We are all Malaysians and we have grown mature with time. We believe change must be made by Sabahans themselves. PR leaders should refrain from imposing colonist mentality on Sabahans,” he reminded.
While attributing Lim’s display of arrogance to DAP’s victory in the recent Sarawak state election, Dullie contended that being a veteran politician, Lim should know the rationale behind the voting trend among the Chinese there.
He also reminded Lim on the fact that the natives of Sarawak still rallied behind and gave their votes to Barisan Nasional (BN) despite various exposures made by the opposition before and during the election campaign period because the Sarawakians aspired to protect their autonomy.
