Formula to win over Sabah

(fz.com) – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had promised to let SAPP contest two thirds of the seats in the Sabah state assembly, while national based opposition parties will contest two thirds of the Parliamentary seats.

 

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice-president Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui, in revealing this, said the party is going along with this formula after reaching a consensus with Anwar, who she assumes will go back to negotiate with the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.

 

“Anwar is recognised as the spokesman of PR coalition. Obviously, when we are negotiating, they are willing to seek a formula, it should be a win-win situation for all,” the Tawau MP told fz.com in an exclusive interview recently in parliament.

 

When asked when this consensus was reached, Chua said the parties have been talking from the beginning of this year, but negotiations are still on going, because the political scenario is dynamic.

 

“We are not sure if there are any more parliamentarians or state assemblymen leaving BN, as it will change the balance of the negotiation. Anyway the main negotiation that we are doing with PR is (with) PKR, and Anwar is leading PKR. So hopefully we can reach a final consensus just before the election,” the affable politician said.

 

Currently, the national-based and local-based opposition parties are in negotiation to come up with a formula that would satisfy every party. However, the likelihood that an amicable solution would result is not very strong, as there are many political considerations in the Land Below the Wind.

 

These include the State Reform Party (STAR) Sabah, led by the Kadazandusun strongman Datuk Dr Jeffery Kitingan, which is reportedly eyeing the rural seats, and has gone on record to say the party will contest all the state seats.

 

Also, DAP and SAPP are eyeing similar urban and Chinese majority seats. Furthermore, it is unsure what role the two BN MPs – Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin (Beaufort) and Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing (Tuaran) – who quit Umno and Upko respectively to join Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah.

 

To Chua, the opposition should have a common goal – to fight against BN – and also a common vision as to what to do for the people.

 

She feels that the opposition front already share a common ideology and vision, and the parties merely need to work out a formula as the two MPs had changed the equation.

 

She also hopes that leaderships of all parties could recognize the difficulties in challenging BN and choose winnable candidates.

 

‘BN is arrogant’

 

When asked if she was planning to contest in the next election, Chua brushed it aside, saying that it is the prerogative of the party president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, and the important thing is to strengthen the party’s network. The party has two MPs and two state assemblymen (the two other state assemblymen opted to remain as BN independents).

 

Chua ventured into politics in 1994 and become one of the pioneers of the SAPP which was registered in 1994. She witnessed the party became a partner of BN Sabah, before it pulled out of the alliance in 2009, citing loss of confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister and BN chairman Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

 

She was elected in 1995 GE and 2008 GE on the BN ticket and enjoyed the allocations and help of government agencies until she left the coalition.

 

According to Chua, Sabah BN is different now, and has become very arrogant.

 

“They think by putting a lot of pressure on people, they will still gain,” she says with a shake of her head.

 

Among the tactics used by the BN, Chua says, is to go to the rural folk and tell them that they will only get something vital, say water tanks, if they hang up the BN flag. This sort of pressure will have adverse effect, she points out.