KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has officially withdrawn from Perikatan Nasional coalition, ending its controversial decision to sit as a member in two opposing coalitions.
SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee (pic) said the party officially withdrew from Perikatan last month following a decision made at a supreme council meeting on Nov 23.
“Perikatan headquarters was officially informed of this decision last month,” said Yong, whose party is also part of the state’s ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, which is part of the national unity government.
Yong said the decision was made after it had became clear that Perikatan wants to contest in the upcoming Sabah election.
“This position contradicts SAPP’s long-standing policy that all 73 state constituencies should only be contested by local Sabah parties.
“This stand is consistent with MA63 and autonomy for Sabah. We cannot compromise on our commitment in ensuring that the elections for the Sabah legislative assembly remain exclusively under the purview of local parties, free from interference by national-based parties from Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
Yong said Perikatan’s insistence on fielding candidates from national-based parties in the state polls directly contradicted SAPP’s fundamental principle.
Yong said GRS, a coalition of all local parties led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, wants to contest all 73 seats in the coming state election.
“In fact, one of the key motions we have submitted to the GRS supreme council to deliberate is Sabah’s autonomy, which means GRS should field candidates in all 73 state constituencies,” he said.
