MCA and ‘katak’ Hiew both guilty of ‘cheating’ Sabahans
Alyaa Alhadjri, The Ant Daily
The Sabah political scene is no stranger to the game of “leap frog” played by elected representatives and recent developments have indicated that time may be running out for such self-serving politicians.
According to political analyst Dr Arnold Puyok, an elected MP or state legislator must be seen to uphold the trust placed upon them by voters.
“To go around and knock on the door of other parties (than the one whose ticket he contested on) shows that the politician is merely championing his own personal interests,” he told theantdaily.
Puyok, who insisted that he would refrain from commenting on internal squabbles in Sabah Barisan Nasional, however, concurred with the view that MCA should have consulted the local component parties before accepting former DAP Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu into its fold.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had earlier this week said that such a discussion was necessary to arrive at a consensus which brings about “a feeling of sincerity, respectability and commitment” within the BN coalition.
Theantdaily on June 10 quoted Pairin as saying: “Now, if that is going to be destroyed, then it is not going to be the same and will allow for the break-up of BN because it will allow a free-for-all situation.”
While BN in Sabah is led by Umno through its chief minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, the coalition also includes four local parties — PBS, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was in Sabah on June 7 to witness Hiew’s submission of his application to join MCA, accepted by Sabah MCA chairman Wilfred Yong, making him the party’s sole assemblyman in the state.
Liow was also quoted as claiming that both Musa and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak had given their “blessings” for MCA to accept Hiew’s membership application, despite its own state leaders’ earlier insistence that a consensus must be reached before such a decision could be made.
“They (Musa and Najib) also feel very happy for Hiew to make this very important decision to contribute to the government, as Luyang had been MCA’s seat,” said Liow.
Hiew, also a former Kota Kinabalu MP and DAP state adviser, had on Sept 27 last year announced his decision to quit the DAP and served his constituents as an independent assemblyman.
