KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) wants Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to state its stand on the Labuan issue.
The former Sabah territory which is now a Federal Territory after it was ceded to the federal government in 1984, recently became a hot topic again, following Upko’s recent call for this island to be returned back to Sabah.
Upko vice president Datuk Wences Angang on Thursday called on the federal government to return labuan to the Sabah government for failing to administer the island and maintain its free port status.
He urged this in response to Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Datuk Zainal Abidin’s statement earlier, saying that smuggling activities in Labuan have gone out of control, thereby incurring huge losses to the government.
In a statement issued here yesteray, SAPP information chief Chong Pit Fah urged PBS to state its stand on the issue, asserting that this is appropriate and important citing the fact that it was once a crucial part of PBS’ agendas and struggles, that even led to its winning of the 1985 election to form the state government.
“Both Upko and Umno have stated their stand on the matter. We believe the people of Sabah are now eager to know what is PBS’ stand on this matter, whether it is still the same or has changed,” said Chong.
He also urged the federal government not to do as they like in Labuan just because it is a Federal Territory.
He stressed that the federal government must not use the “out-of-control smuggling activity” as an excuse for changing the status of Labuan, as it was merely an enforcement issue.
Chong who is also SAPP Kepayan CLC chairman, also wanted to know the reason behind the much delay in the implementation of the proposed Labuan–Menumbok Bridge project, citing that it was announced during the tenure of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the Prime Minister.
“If Penang can have a second bridge then why can’t we have a bridge to link Labuan and Menumbok?” he asked, adding that its materialization would be significant in boosting the economy of Labuan and Menumbok.
He further noted that it has been one of the SAPP’s eight-point declaration that the Federal Territory of Labuan shall be returned to Sabah and governed as a special region.