Hopes fading for SAPP-DAP partnership in Sabah, says SAPP

(The Star) – Hopes for an electoral partnership between the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and DAP are dimming.

There is strong indication that state DAP leaders have refused to work with SAPP, which has accused DAP of attacking local-based parties.

“It is a DAP plot to wipe out all local parties,” SAPP secretary- general Datuk Richard Yong said.

Yong said their views were very much against the stand made by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who announced the “Pakatan Rakyat plus SAPP formula” and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim‘s wish for Pakatan to work with SAPP.

Yong said there were signs that Sabah-based opposition parties might form their own coalition without having to work with Pakatan.

The first sign of a deal between SAPP and Pakatan emerged when SAPP expressed its interest to contest more of the 60 state seats and give way to Pakatan to contest 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah.

However, things turned sour when local DAP leaders issued statements deemed insulting to SAPP.