LDP: Proof that peninsula-based opposition parties irrelevant here
Published on: Friday, October 07, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: The exodus of Pakatan Harapan (PH) state assemblymen from the coalition shows increasing awareness of upholding Sabah's rights which has been strongly advocated by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).LDP chief publicity officer Albert Kok said it also proved that the peninsula-based opposition parties have become to the local people.He said the mass resignations of PH elected representatives from their respective parties to join local parties further proved that the policies of the peninsula-based opposition parties failed to resonate or create a sense of belonging among the leaders.ADVERTISEMENT Kok said the exit of the opposition state assemblymen from Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) could be due to their disappointment and frustration over their parties' lack of attention on the needs of Sabahans."The peninsula-based opposition parties often have the misconception that what Sabahans want are the same as the West Malaysians. As such, their policies have failed to gain acceptance from the people in Sabah."For instance, some PH leaders have perceived Sabahans would believe the opposition parties do care for them by holding talks or dinner ceremony once every six months in the State."Some opposition leaders even believed that they could improve the wellbeing of Sabahans by live streaming their talks in the peninsula on social media," he said.ADVERTISEMENT Furthermore, Kok said PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's statement on the departure of Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin from the party showed the party only viewed the exodus of its state leaders from its own perspective rather than looking into the real reason why Lajim and other PH assemblymen quit their respective parties."It has never dawned on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that their leaders left their parties because they are loyal to Sabah, that their love for Sabah surpasses their allegiance to DAP or PKR.
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"The opposition parties only view their departure as betrayal," he said.Similarly, Kok said Sabah DAP Chairman Stephen Wong Tien Fatt has openly labelled his former secretary cum Likas Assemblyman Junz Wong as 'katak' (frog), but did not ponder why the young assemblyman chose to leave the party."DAP takes the loyalty of its young leaders for granted," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Kok said the latest political episode was a sign that the peninsula-based opposition parties are gradually becoming irrelevant in Sabah."The rakyat have seen the true colours of peninsula-based opposition parties during the previous two elections and come to the conclusion that they should root for Sabah-based parties instead," he said.