Sabah DAP names new leaders, open to talks
Published on: Wednesday, October 05, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP has appointed new leaders to replace those who left the party on Sunday. Its Chairman Stephen Wong said the new line-up, which includes Kepayan Assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi as Deputy Chairman, would show that the party was still intact and ready to continue its fight for the people. The new line-up and restructuring sees former Sabah Chairman Jimmy Wong appointed as Advisor, Bosi replacing Joan Goh, Frankie Poon replacing George Hiew as Vice President, Sri Tanjung Assemblyman Chan Foong Hin replacing Junz Wong as Secretary and Ronnie Loh replacing David Williams as Treasurer, among others.
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The party will officially endorse the new committee in its annual general meeting on Nov 20, this year. Although still visibly upset with the departure of the seven, Stephen said he was open to working with local opposition for straight fights against the Barisan Nasional (BN) but with conditions. But he still lashed out at Junz Wong over claims the latter was enticing DAP members to his side. "It's one thing to leave yourself for your new house, but don't try to damage your old house in the process. This I cannot tolerate. Why tear down the party that has brought him up?
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"This is the mentality of an opportunist and not true opposition. If Junz was really a sincere opposition politician, he would try to persuade members of the BN coalition instead of further damaging the opposition," he said. Stephen, who predicted Junz will join former Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal's new party, said the latter's "unprofessional" behaviour will hamper future negotiations with Shafie's party, which was already underway.
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Chan also said the party was open to negotiations for a formula to allow straight fights against the BN but on the condition that it got to keep all the seats it won in the last elections. "We are not trying to belittle the local parties, but we need there to be some mutual respect – give back the seats we won to us. Junz and his people are welcome to strengthen their new party, but please don't try to take what we worked so hard on all this while. And don't try to sweet talk others into leaving," he said. On the current emergence of local parties, Chan insisted that Sabah DAP has consistently been fighting for the same equality. "Let's move away from narrow-minded local sentiments and look at the big picture. Even if a local government wins, you still need the Federal Government to make changes to the Constitution. Let's throw Umno out of power. Our doors are always open to do that together. But we need mutual respect to do that," he said. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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