'Malaysia is a democratic country that permits all registered parties to contest in any state' - Bung Moktar

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin emphasized that Malaysia is a democratic country that allows all parties to compete in any state.

In this regard, he described the statement of the President of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, that peninsula-based parties should not contest in Sabah, as unreasonable.

"Malaysia is a democratic country that permits all registered parties to contest in any state."

"It is unreasonable for Sabah politicians to make such statements," he said in a statement yesterday.

Instead, Bung Moktar stated that Teck Lee should establish a clear stance regarding SAPP's position, which appears to lack direction as it is part of two alliances – the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) at the state level yet in opposition at the national level by being part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

"In Sabah, Teck Lee supports GRS under Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor who is part of the federal unity government. However, at the federal level, he aligns with PN, which opposes the federal unity government."

"I would like to ask Teck Lee and SAPP about their true stance – are they straddling the fence and enjoying both political worlds? I'd like to remind him and SAPP that PN is a nationally-based party led by the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Pas."

"Does this mean he is suggesting that Bersatu should not expand its presence into Sabah? What about the Deputy President of Bersatu, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, and the Pas Assemblymen appointed in Sabah?" he questioned.

Bung Moktar, who also chairs Sabah's Barisan Nasional (BN), once again asserted that it's time for Teck Lee to recognize the fact that national parties do play a significant role in Sabah.

According to him, local-based parties like the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah (Berjaya), and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) have failed in Sabah politics and the same fate awaits many local-based parties in the future.

"SAPP itself, after leaving BN in 2008, did not win a single seat in any subsequent elections. I believe he fully realizes that he has repeatedly lost his deposits over the past 20 years."

"Isn't this a message to SAPP that they have lost seats to national parties like DAP in predominantly Chinese areas?" he asked.

Teck Lee recently stated that peninsula-based parties should not contest in Sabah in the upcoming state elections.