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SAPP endorses motion of no-confidence
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Sat, Jun 21, 2008
NST
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>KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - Inviting expulsion from the Barisan Nasional, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) yesterday reaffirmed its decision to call for a no-confidence vote against the prime minister. After a nearly day-long meeting, SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said the supreme council was unanimous in endorsing the tabling of a vote of no-confidence in parliament against Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which Yong had announced on Wednesday.
Abdullah said on Thursday the SAPP would not be sacked as an emergency BN meeting with component leaders in Kuala Lumpur believed Yong's call was not the stand of the party.
The SAPP supreme council meeting, which started at 11.10am and ended at 4.30pm, saw 29 of its 35 supreme council members present, including deputy president Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah who had earlier met Yong privately for close to an hour. Tan, however, did not stay for the press conference.
Two other deputies - Sepanggar Member of Parliament Datuk Eric Majimbun and Likas assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan - were overseas on official duty.
"On our position in the BN, we have taken various factors into consideration, including the propaganda onslaught against the SAPP.
"In regard to the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, it is the supreme council's decision to endorse it. It was reached based on consensus," he said.
He reiterated that the motion could be tabled by one of its two MPs, Majimbun or Tawau MP Datuk Chua Soon Bui, some time during the parliamentary sitting due to begin on Monday.
Yong said all supreme council members had agreed to accept the decision despite their respective views.
Pressed on whether the party was still with the BN and if the matter of it leaving the coalition was brought up, Yong said it was discussed although it was not in the agenda of the meeting.
He said the party was "ready to face all consequences" when asked if it was waiting for the BN to expel it.
Yong expressed surprise that the SAPP was not invited to Thursday's BN meeting chaired by Abdullah.
"According to the BN secretary-general (Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor), we were not invited as the meeting was held to discuss the SAPP.
"According to the information I received, it was held to expel us from the BN but that did not materialise for whatever reason.
"If there was no agenda to expel us, then why were we not invited?" he said.
He said the party was ready to answer in writing to the BN if there was a request for it to do so. Asked if the SAPP was still committed to the BN, Yong said the party was "committed to our platforms, and to our causes".
When another reporter posed the same question hoping to get more answers, Yong asked if the BN was committed to Sabah.
Yong answered a range of questions in the 40-minute packed press conference at the party's headquarters in Wisma Bornion, near here, with vice-president and Tawau MP Dr Chua Soon Bui on his left, party secretary-general Richard Yong on his right and almost all leaders who had attended the meeting standing close by.
Also present at the press conference was assistant finance minister and Luyang assemblywoman Melanie Chia.
Yong, who was Sabah chief minister for two years, described the offer of a senatorship and appointment as special envoy to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and the East Asean Growth Area as a "political bribe".
He said he was informed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman that Abdullah was going to announce the offer of the post of senator and special envoy.
"I told him (Musa) that an announcement should not be made.
"I asked the chief minister if this offer was made to tutup mulut (shut my mouth) and that I was unsure if it was a political bribe," Yong added.
He also commented on the statement by Abdullah that he was unable to satisfy Yong's personal greed.
"I have never asked for anything personal.
"I have brought up a range of issues from illegal immigrants to efforts to get a commitment from the Philippines (to solve the illegal immigrant issue)."
He also questioned the timing of the Anti-Corruption Agency wanting to investigate him for ordering the payment of over RM5 million from the sale of shares belonging to a state-owned company to his agents.
"I am surprised by the timing. Why not last week?
"This case is in court. It's not new. They questioned me four or five years ago about this for several hours. I am ready to face any consequences, including being jailed.
"Maybe it's a warning signal to others. It's like slaughtering a chicken to warn the monkeys. I am the chicken which is being slaughtered and the monkeys are being warned not to follow what I have done," Yong said.
On his meetings with Parti Keadilan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and whether he had been promised more than a senatorship, Yong said no offer was made.
"Changing the government is not that straightforward. But there are a lot of allegations (of offers)," he said.
The press conference was aired live through video conferencing to an empty shoplot near the headquarters for supporters to listen to what Yong had to say.
A small crowd gathered outside the SAPP premises about 2pm despite a heavy shower.
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