KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s call to the Registrar of Society (ROS) to reconsider the proposal to approve the registration of 20 political parties is against basic human right.
The call also goes to prove that Pairin has reneged on his initial struggle for a freedom of association by issuing such statement, Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing said.
“This also clearly shows that Pairin now is supporting the idea of denying the people their basic right to free association in a democratic country,” the Tamparuli assemblyman said.
Bumburing said the people should be allowed to exercise their right by allowing them to be associated with a political organization and this should not be construed as serving an individual’s agenda or motive as Pairin suggested.
“Let the people decide whether the setting up of a political party is based on the aspiration of the people or otherwise. Pairin’s statement also goes to show that he no longer has the confidence in getting the support of the younger generation.
“Arguably, Pairin himself has lost the popular support of the people both in the Tambunan state constituency and also the Keningau parliamentary constituency based on the combined votes of the opposition candidates in the last general election.
“We now have a society that is well-informed and matured enough in knowing what is best for them and we must respect the wishes of the people and let them decide which political party they would like to support,” he said.