Look at DAP’s 46-year struggle, SAPP told

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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP is surprised that Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is not recognising the contribution made by national opposition parties in nation building to realise a Malaysian Malaysia nation.

Henry Shim, organising secretary for DAP division here, reckoned that SAPP should look at the struggles of DAP for the last 46 years, especially in standing up against injustices and upholding the principles of the nation’s constitution.

Replying to a recent statement by SAPP Youth chief Edward Dagul on the matter, Shim said: “We are sad that Edward Dagul views DAP’s electoral gains very negatively and thus, shows the true colour of the leader and his party.”

“We must however thank Dagul for his confidence in DAP Sabah to win at least six seats in the coming 13th general election.

“Dagul must have realised that DAP and Pakatan Rakyat can easily deny BN its two-thirds majority in the state assembly and to provide enough MP seats to get Pakatan Rakyat into Putrajaya if there is a one-to-one fight with BN. The two-party system that we are consolidating is the right direction towards achieving this goal.

“Unless the local opposition parties cooperate with Pakatan Rakyat, then the prediction by Dagul on DAP Sabah winning six seats is not possible,” Shim said today.

“Ideally, SAPP should join Pakatan Rakyat and together we will change the political landscape in Sabah and Malaysia,” said Shim, who is also Api Api Branch vice chairman.

“Let there be no doubt where SAPP is standing in this election. Now that SAPP has chosen to stand in between PR and BN as the so called ‘3rd force’ is undesirable.

“People would see SAPP more as a BN agent to act as a spoiler to hinder the nation towards achieving a two party-system,” he said.

Shim further contended that it seemed the stand by SAPP which is headed by former chief minister Yong Teck Lee is neither here nor there.

“Without a stand, maybe SAPP is perceived as a political opportunist by the voters. It is no secret that people are asking these questions.”

Shim also reminded the people of Sabah that SAPP’s top leaders were known for their jumping in and out of BN in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 2009 and that being that case, “what’s stopping SAPP from rejoining BN in 2012?

Sabah DAP, said Shim, is hopeful that SAPP leaders such as Dagul does not jeopardise the common ground that the opposition parties share in facing the mighty ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming general election.

“It is our duty to inform the people what is DAP and naturally, we would like to tell them about the political position of the party in the country.

“We cannot understand why doing such is deemed to intimidate Sabahans. We cannot see any relationship between these two matters,” Shim added.

He said Sabah DAP would like to remind Dagul that DAP has a 46-year struggle and during those years it has seen and experienced the ups and downs.

“There is no need for Dagul to remind us about it. Our confidence is based on the party’s struggle having credible and committed leaders with high integrity and honesty.

“We let the people judge us. If we have met their expectations we are sure to win more than the six seats predicted by Dagul,” he said.

According to him further, Sabah DAP leaders respect and have a high regard for their national leaders.

“Leader such as Tan Kok Wai is a six-term member of parliament. Being DAP’s national director of election, he is the best person to answer questions pertaining to seat allocations.”

Recently, Tan confirmed that Sabah DAP Sabah would contest 20 state seats and 10 parliamentary seats in Sabah and that PKR and PAS are also contesting in Sabah.

“However the situation will change if local parties join Pakatan Rakyat. To put the record right, Tan Kok Wai did not say that Pakatan Rakyat will sweep all the seats in Sabah without any room for local parties,” Shim concluded.