BN wins on paper, but Yong wins hearts

Gauging local sentiment in Batu Sapi is easy. Distaste for Barisan Nasional runs deep. According to conventional wisdom, that should translate into a protest vote? Not so fast.
Predicting the outcome of the Nov 4 parliamentary by-election is a dicey business.

Suffice to say whatever the outcome, the margin of difference between the three battling parties -- BN, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and PKR -- will set the stage for the 13th general election scheduled for before 2012.

After all as a much respected Sabah leader Jeffrey Kitingan has pointedly told voters, “this is a only a by-election, vote for the opposition -- give any opposition a chance -- and we shall see if the government of the day will do something to recapture the trust of the people and show Sabahans that they are sincere.”

On paper, BN's looking good -- with some 4,000-odd votes seemingly “already in its pockets” courtesy of postal votes and 3,000 Muslim Bumiputera loyalists.

In the final thrust, which began yesterday, generous lacings of cash, citizenships and infrastructure such as jetties, mosques and solar lights are promises being quickly fulfilled.

But on the ground, the rumblings and rousing welcomes are reserved for SAPP's Yong Teck Lee, whose “Sabah for Sabahans" slogan is stirring the imagination of the weary poverty-stricken constituency.

Yong is aiming for 80% Chinese votes and 25% Muslim Bumiputeras votes to create that Sibu-style upset that BN does not want to see.

Still, measuring how far the electorates' support for Yong and disgust for Chief Minister Musa Aman's regime will translate into votes, is a task best left to self-professed political observers and the clairvoyant.

Promises that never materialised

Meanwhile voters, especially the Muslim Bumiputeras who constitute some 60% of the electorate in this vast constituency that is half the size of Johor, appear resigned to their fate.

First, it was the all-powerful and now defunct United Sabah National Organisation (Usno, which by the way, is trying to make a comeback), and then came Berjaya Party in the 1970s.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) grabbed the baton in the 1980s and Umno and the BN stole it in the 1990s.

All had something in common. They promised something better but that “something” never came. The people are still poor, lack basic facilities and face a bleak future.

But they persevered with hope and repeatedly voted these same parties that were giving them nothing despite the state's riches.

That's the way it has always been. But they have not been cowed and latest ground reports are whispering change.

Yong the candidate is also the rebel-rousing president of SAPP and he's being lifted by a wave of anti-establishment, anti-federal government sentiment akin to what was first seen when Usno and then Berjaya fell.

Unfortunately, all it means is that the people of Batu Sapi and Sabahans are fed up with being dictated to by non-Sabahans.

And that's bad news for the Kuala Lumpur-based Umno-BN and PKR -- which is testing its influence here in Sabah for the first time.

In 1985, PBS won because of that same sentiment -- a feeling that Sabah should have its own way. Now, if the annoyed talk is any indication, that sentiment is back.

"There's no one else to turn to… Going back to the founding fathers of PBS, who is there? Yong is one," said a local who has followed the political meanderings of the various parties.

"SAPP is the key to getting back at KL for all the broken promises. It (the local sentiment of Sabah for Sabahans) is boiling up again. It used to be with PBS… people were attached to PBS. But they lost (the) sympathy (of Sabahans) when they joined BN.

"You go and ask people. People don't respect Pairin (PBS leader Joseph Pairin Kitingan). They don't trust Dompok (Bernard Dompok, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister and the president of the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation) and Maximus (Ongkili, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister).

"They are all seen as BN and federal government proxies. There are no good Sabah leaders left," he said.

'What have we got after 16 years?'

Adding to that, he said many of those locals from the west coast who migrated to the east coast of the state are frustrated with PBS.

"They won't support PBS now even if its the Huguan Siou (paramount leader) asking them... now there is only Yong. He is still seen as a bona fide Sabah leader who the people hope has the courage to speak out on Sabah issues."

Yong's continued attack on Sabah BN leaders for failing to fight for the state's autonomy despite holding top positions in the ruling coalition at national level as well as the recent expose that the federal government had allegedly surrendered some of its oil wealth to Brunei for little in return, has swelled his base.

That's the way Sabahans are. Like anyone else, they will give you a fair chance and sometimes even more than a fair chance and punish you if you take them for granted the way Musa's BN seems to have done.

"What have we got after all these years (16 years of Umno/BN rule to be exact?)," asked a local attached to a semi-government agency in Sandakan.

"We've got a few flyovers, lots of small cell phone shops, a few more empty malls… what else? There's still power cuts, water shortages, petrol prices have gone up. Food is more costly… Is this development? Sixteen years and this is all? I hope BN falls," he said angrily.

Questioned a little more and he said: "I don't like BN but they will win. I have put five RM5,000 on them to win and I think I will make some money but if I lose, I will still be happy."

If Batu Sapi voters deliver the winning result that strategists in both opposition parties expect, the implications for Sabah remain a mystery.

An opposition victory or even a good showing will reflect a repudiation of the Umno-BN rule in Sabah. BY FMT Staff

Ansari: We've more support than SAPP and PBS?

Sabah Pakatan Rakyat's candidate for Batu Sapi, Ansari Abdullah, brushed aside talk of being the weakest contestant in this by-election, saying the opposition coalition is more than capable of taking the fight to BN come polling day this Nov 4.

The veteran politician is confident of his chances, stressing that PKR secured more votes than rivals SAPP and BN component party PBS in the 2008 general election.

“PKR got more votes than SAPP and PBS put together. People seem to forget we got more than 120,000 votes in the last election,” he said in a Malaysiakini exclusive interview. more

BN unleashes banner slander on Yong Teck Lee

The Batu Sapi campaign dynamics takes a turn again as BN launches an all-out banner war against SAPP candidate Yong Teck Lee to try to stem the tide of Chinese support going his way.

The BN's publicity machinery has plastered the town, in particular Chinese-majority areas, with countless banners in Chinese attacking Yong's credibility by indirectly calling him “evil” and a two-faced “politikus”, a play on the Malay word for 'rat'.

A couple of banners also touched on the Saham Amanah Sabah (SAS) scandal that plagued Yong's tenure as Sabah chief minister from 1997 to 1998.

One reads, “Because the mandate was given to a politikus, the people's trust fund has 'returned to Holland'” (right), employing a Chinese metaphor to mean the money is long gone.

Another goes, “You cheat your way towards Sabah autonomy, so that you can do evil again”, while yet another, “When you enter BN on your knees, you say BN is good, but when you quit BN, it is bad”.

The SAPP president however anticipated the attack, making sure a few days ago to blame Umno for the SAS debacle where the trust fund value plunged from RM1 per share to as low as RM0.17 each, causing local investors losses in millions of ringgit.

The former BN party is sticking close to their 'Sabah for Sabahans' and Sabah autonomy slogans, putting up hand-painted banners that accused the federal government of misdeeds against the Borneo state.

One banner reads, “No matter big or small, things have to be approved by KL. How much dignity has Sabah left?”, while another accuses Umno of talking all of Sabah's petroleum, leaving the state as the poorest in Malaysia.

PKR miracle or sacrifice?

PKR meanwhile are confident that they have a foot in the race with the majority bumiputera Muslim voter base, traditionally a BN goldmine for support.

Despite a relatively modest print campaign compared to their opponents', with only PKR flags and posters of their candidate Ansari Abdullah, the Pakatan Rakyat is optimistic of gaining support from both the Chinese and bumiputera Muslims.

PKR election director Fuziah Salleh told Malaysiakini that PKR is enjoying increased Chinese support in Batu Sapi.

Rather than jump into the banner slander war, she said they are instead launching a publicity campaign targeted at bumiputeras to convince them that they have nothing to lose in voting for the opposition, since they have gained little from having supported BN for so long.

To reach out to more Chinese voters, Pakatan has run full page advertisements in local Chinese dailies listing their many achievements in the states taken by the coalition in the watershed March 2008 general election.

A PKR source however admitted that they are still open to working with SAPP to take down their common enemy, if SAPP manages to sweep the Chinese votes that make up nearly 40 percent of the electorate.

“If we find that SAPP controls most of the Chinese voters, we will consider giving up on the battle and instead concentrate our efforts on getting more BN bumiputera voters to help Yong Teck Lee win, because our main target is BN.

“But if we find that we are gaining Chinese votes, we will go all out in that segment and hopefully achieve a miracle in Batu Sapi,” the source said. By Joseph Sipalan & Kuek Ser Kuang Keng

Lukewarm reception for Anwar, Muhyiddin

Holding high office does not seem to mean much to Batu Sapi voters, who gave a not-so-rousing reception to the nation's top politicians from both sides of the divide last night.

As the campaign for the parliamentary seat heats up, voters seem less inclined to entertain leaders flying in all the way from the Peninsula to make their pitch for their respective leaders.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin endured the red-faced embarrassment of seeing people getting up and leaving as he was giving his speech at a Majlis Mesra Rakyat at the Sandakan multi-purpose hall.

Prior to that, around half the hall emptied after the 700-odd invited guests were done listening to Chief Minister Musa Aman's speech on how development can only come through BN.

And considering that an 8pm dinner is considered late in Sandakan, the decision to have Muhyiddin speak at 10.20pm was obviously keeping the invited guests past their usual bed time.

To his credit, the deputy premier soldiered on with his speech, telling those remaining that the BN "means business" in making sure the country becomes a developed nation by 2020.

Muhyiddin acknowledged that the Batu Sapi by-election is an important gauge of public opinion on the current ruling coalition and its policies, but stressed that their competition is not capable of providing for the people.

Taking a jab at PKR candidate Ansari Abdullah's two falls into the sea, he said it was "bad feng shui" for PKR.

"Why choose him if he cannot do anything for you? I think if this seat is given away to others, it will be a sheer waste," he said.

Muhyiddin also countered Sapp president and Batu Sapi candidate Yong Teck Lee's Sabah for Sabahans slogan, calling it an "old story" that rings hollow among Sabahans themselves.

"This is an old story, and the people have moved forward. There are many Sabahans who hold important positions in the government," he said.

Hit and miss for Anwar

Pakatan Rakyat de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, meanwhile, received a mixed bag of results last night, as his star power that normally draws thousands in Peninsular Malaysia failed to get more than a few curious souls in Batu Sapi.

At his first stop at Tai Tong in Taman Mawar, hardly 100 people in the Chinese majority area turned up to listen to his brief address in support of their candidate, Ansari Abdullah.

His arrival did swell the numbers a bit from the earlier turnout of around 60 people and he managed to coax a bit of spirit from the assembled crowd when he declared Pakatan's plan to take over Sabah and Putrajaya, but their applause was few and far between.

Anwar had better luck at Kg Gas, where Ansari fell into the sea a second time earlier in the day, attracting an enthusiastic crowd of some 50 people.

His biggest challenge of the night however was Kg Lupak Meluas, where just 20 were in attendance to hear the former deputy premier speak.

Sensing their passiveness , Anwar took a more motivational approach, appointing all who attended as "special officers" for PKR's door-to-door campaign.

"Please inform all your friends and relatives to help organise such events, and ask everybody to attend. Then we can go in to the kampong," he told the crowd, which remained unimpressed.

'Voters still deciding'

Anwar, however, defended Pakatan's showing so far in this campaign, saying at a press conference this morning that Batu Sapi voters are not aggressive and are still keeping their options open.

He claimed that the Chinese are "shifting positively" towards Pakatan and away from Sapp, as the latter is still unclear in its stand against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration.

"The only clear thing from Sapp is Sabah for Sabahans, but Sabah autonomy can only be achieved through Pakatan Rakyat," he said.

Anwar admitted that BN goodies that come with by-elections may sway bumiputera voters, but remains optimistic about their chances.

"That is why we need to explain to them... ask for more gifts but when voting, vote for Pakatan," he said, adding that the mood towards Pakatan from bumiputera voters is good.

SAPP coup possible in Batu Sapi

SAPP's chances appear to be on an uptrend in the Batu Sapi by-election, as early predictions lean towards a possible coup.

The reading is that SAPP's president and Batu Sapi candidate Yong Teck Lee is benefitting from a lack of challenge from rivals Ansari Abdullah (PKR) and Linda Tsen Thau Lin (BN).

SAPP, that is working hard to steal a chunk of bumiputera votes from the BN, is seen as having a strong footing among the Chinese who make up a sizeable minority at nearly 40 percent of the 25,582 registered voters in Batu Sapi.

BN's Tsen, the widow of Edmund Chong Ket Wah who held the seat until his fatal motorcycle accident three weeks ago, however has the support of the mighty BN election machinery, and Umno that commands strong support from the majority bumiputera Muslim voters.

It is, however, not these two who provide the intrigue but PKR, that despite having the weakest campaign machinery of the three, is poised to dictate the outcome of the Nov 4 polls.

For despite Ansari's sluggish campaign beginnings, the opposition coalition's assault is expected to pick up pace with the influx of national Pakatan leaders hitting the campaign trail over the next few days.

Among the key leaders already in Batu Sapi are Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and 'Sibu miracle' MP Wong Ho Leng, who are expected to give Chinese voters something to think about , while PAS leaders Mahfuz Omar and Mohamad Sabu is hoping to sway the bumiputera Muslim sentiments.

Pakatan de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim also arrived yesterday night to lend his star power, and is expected to join DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang for a ceramah later tonight.

PKR possible kingmakers

As it stands, the opposition can hope for at least 5,771 votes, based on the outcome of the last contest in Batu Sapi.

In that contest during the March 2008 general election, the late incumbent Chong defended the seat with 9,479 votes in a straight fight with independent candidate Chong Kwong Wing, who earned a respectable 5,771 votes.

The impressive number of votes garnered by the challenger despite lacking in campaign machinery as an independent candidate, indicates that there is a sizeable pool of hardcore opposition supporters in the parliamentary constituency.

Assuming the same voter turnout and that the opposition will retain the support of the anti-establishment vote, it follows that SAPP's chances depend highly on how well it competes with PKR.

Another factor will be how successful both opposition parties are at hacking away at BN's majority.
Should the pro-opposition voters be split 70-30 between SAPP and PKR, that would translate to 4,040 and 1,731 votes respectively.

From there, the opposition needs to collectively steal 40 percent of the BN's 9,479 votes if SAPP hopes to have a shot at winning this contest.

That is, if both SAPP and PKR can snag 20 percent each (1,898 votes), it should give Yong a victory as his final tally would be 5,938 votes, ahead of BN's 5,687 and PKR's 3,629.

PKR chances slim

This scenario however does not guarantee Yong a win, as it depends entirely on the split in support between the two opposition parties.

Anything under 20 percent for SAPP would mean the opposition effectively hands victory over to the BN on a silver platter.

Looking at voter demographics, SAPP will benefit from PKR making inroads into pro-BN bumiputera voters, while BN stands to gain if PKR whittles away at Chinese support for SAPP.
Ultimately, while PKR's chances of winning look slim, they remain an important force in determining the final outcome in Batu Sapi. - by Joseph Sipalan

Ansari takes another plunge into the sea

After falling victim to a jetty which collapsed on Wednesday, PKR candidate for the Batu Sapi by-election Ansari Abdullah again fell into the sea after a wooden walkway gave way.

While Ansari was visiting a Kampung Gas, Sandakan - a fishing village with houses on stilts above the seawater - this afternoon when the incident happened.

Ansari was following Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim into a house when the platform connecting the walkway collapsed.

He was not hurt in the incident and the rather wet lawyer-politician was later whisked away to seek medical attention.

On Oct 27, Ansari, his campaign manager and an NTV7 journalist fell into the sea after a wooden jetty at Pulau Api they were on collapsed. Nobody was hurt.

Batu Sapi hopefuls aim guns at different targets

The Batu Sapi by-election opposition candidates seem to be focusing their crosshairs on different targets as both issued debate challenges for Sunday.



Defacing posters act by irresponsible campaigners

 PKR's Ansari Abdullah was the first to throw down the gauntlet, calling on SAPP's Yong Teck Lee and BN's Linda Tsen Thau Lin to face him in a three-way debate scheduled for 2pm this weekend at Sanbay Hotel.

"The objective of this debate is for candidates to present their agenda for the people to judge," he said during the party's daily morning briefing.

Yong, however, swatted aside Ansari's (left) challenge, instead issuing his own dare to Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman to prove that SAPP's struggles for Sabah rights, 'Sabah for Sabahans' and Borneonisation are "outdated".

While clearly stating that he would "leave Linda alone", the SAPP president was not nearly as gracious with Ansari, saying that the PKR candidate "speaks for nobody".

Yong also implied that he is at the level of senior Pakatan Rakyat leaders such as de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, and not interested in entertaining Ansari who is "only the ketua cabang (division chief) of Tuaran".
"Who is he speaking for? Ansari has no locus standi to challenge anybody on Batu Sapi or national issues," Yong said at a press conference at their Karamunting office this afternoon.

"I think he wants to complain about the jetty lah. I have been to Pulau Timbang and all the villages on the islands many months ago, and I could see the jetties were in bad condition.

"As a fellow candidate on the campaign trail, there are many risks and I'm sorry you had to fall down. But when you see a jetty in bad condition, you pandai-pandai lah (use your judgment)," he said...Joseph Sipalan

PKR sees SAPP as spoiler in Batu Sapi

Who is actually the spoiler?
PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has described Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) as a spoiler in the upcoming Batu Sapi by-election for also contesting.

She said the voters should therefore choose PKR which was representing Pakatan Rakyat, the real opposition, in facing the BN in the by-election.

"In any election, it's always not easy for us to compete against the might of BN but we won in Sibu (Sarawak)," she said after the nomination of candidates for the Batu Sapi by-election in Sandakan today.

The parliamentary state seat by-election will see a three-cornered contest involving BN candidate Linda Tsen, PKR's Ansari Abdullah, and former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee from SAPP.
PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, meanwhile, said it could not be ascertained yet whether SAPP would dent Pakatan Rakyat's chances in Batu Sapi.

However, he said, PAS' election machinery was ready to ensure victory for the opposition pact's candidate.
DAP national deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw hoped the voters would give the chance for the PKR candidate to represent them and voice their problems in parliament.- Bernama

Pakatan may have started campaign on a wrong foot

SANDAKAN: Pakatan Rakyat’s campaign appears to be starting off on the wrong foot following a fracas over the choice of the candidate.
On Sunday night, as Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was leaving Sandakan airport a fracas broke out between two factions which saw airport security having to step in to break up the fight.

About 50 supporters of the chosen PKR candidate Ansari Abdullah, a party supreme council member, and Sabah PKR chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini traded insults.

Thamrin’s supporters claimed that he was a better choice over Ansari who is seen as an outsider from Tuaran in the west coast.

Sandakan airport security officer Joe Meyer confirmed the incident which lasted about five minutes around 8.20pm.

He said that airport security pulled the feuding groups apart and they dispersed.

Earlier on Sunday, nearly half of the 1,000-strong crowd walked out of the Hakka Community Hall when Anwar announced Ansari’s name.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/26/galas/7298270&sec=galas

Batu Sapi: Who stands to lose the most?

The stakes are clearly high for the big three contesting the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election on Nov 4.

It will be an interesting tussle between BN, local opposition front SAPP and the Sabah Pakatan Rakyat as this will be the first real contest between the three parties.

But more significant is the impact of the outcome, not just on voting trends in a state that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak calls BN's “fixed deposit”, but also on the fate of key personalities on both sides of the political divide.

Possibly the biggest risk that has been taken is SAPP president Yong Teck Lee's decision to stand in the by-election.

This is the first time his party is contesting against the BN, since he pulled it out of the ruling coalition as a show of no-confidence in the leadership of then premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2008.

Yong and SAPP have since continuously promoted themselves statewide as the best choice for a better Sabah, reviving the 'Sabah for Sabahans' and Borneonisation campaigns in a concerted effort to convince voters of the party's viability as administrators.

But Yong's decision to contest the seat may end up being a double-edged sword that could make or break the former chief minister's political career.

By virtue of being party president, he gains an edge in terms of stature as a candidate, which is no less helped by his long experience as a grassroots leader and his hands-on work ethic.

Should he win, it may well be a glowing endorsement of his party's march to take over Sabah from the BN come the next general election.

By the same token, his position as president also means that all liabilities are loaded on to this by-election, as support for a party is only as good as support for its president.

A loss for Yong in Batu Sapi could signal the death knell for SAPP's ambition of taking control of the state.

Musa's future on the line?

For the BN, the impact of the Batu Sapi polls could spark some upheaval in the state hierarchy, with the pressure - real or perceived - bearing down on chief minister and state Umno liaison chief Musa Aman to deliver.

While their candidate of choice, Linda Tsen Thau Lin, is a PBS member, the results of the by-election will reflect on whether the BN, and inevitably Musa himself, continue to be popular with Sabahans.

And with pervasive rumours inPutrajaya of Najib's 'dislike' of Musa(right), who had aligned himself closely with Abdullah in previous years, it looks like Musa is intent on proving he still has a handle on the state.

Musa's decision to personally take charge of the election machinery only lends credence to the perception that he is under pressure to defend the seat, or end up packing his bags to vacate the chief minister's office.

He even made special mention of Sekong assemblyperson Samsudin Yahya when announcing Tsen's candidacy, indicating that he is banking on Samsudin's popularity with the grassroots to boost support from bumiputera voters, who make up some 60 percent of the electorate.

Positives for Sabah Pakatan

The Sabah Pakatan seems to have the least to lose in this by-election, which will be the first time the three opposition parties - PKR, DAP and PAS - are contesting under the same banner in the state.

The worst that could happen for Sabah Pakatan, should its candidate - former PKR state chief Ansari Abdullah (left)lose - is that it will be viewed as irrelevant in the political scheme of things in Sabah.

The reality they currently face is not too far from that possibility, particularly due to the constant and ugly infighting in Sabah PKR, with a state leadership tussle that went so far as to boot out party vice-president Azmin Ali as state chief.

Sabah Pakatan, however, is probably the only side that can claim any benefit from this by-election, regardless of its outcome.

Should Ansari lose, it can still glean some positives from the outing as it would have helped give the opposition coalition much-needed exposure to voters, while delivering its goals and aspirations to the grassroots.A victory would mean it is officially a real threat to the state BN.

by JOSEPH SIPALAN

Polling for Sabah PKR divisions postponed

Polling for Sabah PKR divisions scheduled to begin on Oct 30 has been postponed for a week in view of the upcoming Batu Sapi by-election.

The party political bureau which met last night resolved that the new polling date will be set for for two days beginning Nov 6.

“This is to ensure that all party leaders, members and machinery in Sabah would be able to focus on the Batu Sapi by-election,” said PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution.

The by-election is slated for Nov 4 and is likely to see both PKR and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) fielding candidates against the incumbent BN, represented by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

This clashes with PKR's elections for its central leadership beginning later this month.

Batu Sapi a 3-corner fight

KOTA KINABALU: The Batu Sapi by-election is expected to face a three-corner fight among BN, SAPP and PKR talks failed with both parties not giving way.

The scheduled meeting which took place at 1pm at a local restaurant ended with a joint press conference. SAPP was led by its President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee while PKR representatives were led by PKR treasurer and Selayang MP, William Leong.

Ahmad Thamrin Jai, Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan and Christina Liew from PKR were also present. Ansari Abdullah was there for a short while but went off without notice. SAPP supreme councillors present were Datuk Liew Teck Chan, Haji Amde Sidik, Chong Pit Fah and Suaib Mutalib...more

PKR to meet SAPP to broker a deal

A group of PKR leaders is expected to meet Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) leaders tomorrow to broker a deal to ensure a one-on-one contest against the BN in the upcoming Batu Sapi parlimentary by-election.

The last-ditch effort is necessary following the call by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for SAPP not to contest in Batu Sapi to pave the way for the PKR to take on the ruling coalition in a straight fight.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Anwar announced that PKR would field a candidate in the Batu Sapi by-election.

SAPP, a Sabah-based party, had earlier indicated its intention to put up a candidate and would announce its candidate on Saturday.

BN will announce its candidate from PBS in Sandakan on Sunday.

When asked about the meeting, SAPP deputy president Eric Majimbun (left) said SAPP's door is always open for discussions for the common good of the people and the state.

"We welcome them to see us. We are ready for the talks. We want to listen to their views especially the possible cooperation to face the mighty BN in the Batu Sapi by-election," he told Bernama today.

However, he said, the SAPP supreme council had already made its decision to field a candidate in the by-election and that it was unlikely that the party would reverse its decision for now.

"SAPP is a local-based party... if we cannot contest in Sabah, where else can we contest? So, we hope that Pakatan Rakyat understands our situation," he said...more on Bernama

Don't belittle SAPP, PKR man tells Pakatan

KOTA KINABALU: A former PKR division leader has urged the opposition coalition not to antagonize or belittling the small, locally based Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

Nahalan Damsal, the former PKR Batu Sapi division chief, said Pakatan Rakyat should regard SAPP as its ally, and not enemy and work with the local party in the coming Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election on Nov 4.

Pakatan should cooperate with and support local parties like the SAPP to better their chances of forming the next government at national level, he said.

“Pakatan Rakyat leaders must realize that our common enemy here is Umno/Barisan Nasional (BN), not any local parties,” he stressed.

He was speaking in response to a statement by Sabah DAP publicity secretary Edwin Bosi who had on Monday said Sabahans must embrace the national parties to change their future.

Bosi said SAPP should take the cue from another local party, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which failed to achieve anything, during its nine-year rule outside of the BN coalition.

However, Nahalan who was also a former Umno leader and assistant state minister under BN, believes the same cannot be said of SAPP, as the latter had pulled out from the ruling coalition to continue with its struggle for the state and to fight for political autonomy.

“Unlike SAPP, PBS has clearly abandoned whatever struggle it used to have in the past when it rejoined BN, for the obvious reason … to survive … and so that its leaders could enjoy all the perks and privileges that come with their positions in the government.

"But, for SAPP, it was exactly the opposite, as they sacrificed all that they were enjoying when they withdrew from BN...more

Trouble brewing in Batu Sapi for PKR

SANDAKAN: Hasnar Ibrahim, the new Batu Sapi PKR division chief, has denounced the negotiation and selection of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) candidate for the Batu Sapi by-election.

Describing it as improper and controversial, he warned the Pakatan leadership of serious consequences if they attempt to simply impose their choice (of candidate) against the will of Batu Sapi people.

Hasnar, who has a stake in the coming by-election, said unauthorized Sabah PKR members had attended a closed-door meeting to select a candidate for the Batu Sapi consituency.

He claims to be among the five PKR leaders being given the mandate to select the PKR candidate for Batu Sapi.

The others in the list are state PKR chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini, Tuaran division Ansari Abdullah, Kota Kinabalu chief Christina Liew and Tawau chief Kong Hong Ming.

However his name and that of Ansari have been removed and replaced with that of Jeffrey Kitingan and Kalakau Untol.

Hasnar is furious that he was not informed and he only realized this when he was prevented from attending the Sabah Pakatan secretariat meeting scheduled yesterday afternoon at the Sandbay Hotel.