LDP: Why no Sabahans in top PH leadership?
Published on: Thursday, July 20, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP Secretary Chan Foong Hin cannot deny the absence of Sabahans in the core leadership of Pakatan Harapan (PH). Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President Datuk Chin Shu Ying pointed out that even Sarawak has a representative in the 12 main leadership positions. As Chan pointed out the PH's top leadership line-up is a completely different concept compared to that of Barisan Nasional (BN), he said.
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"How can there be no Sabahan representative in the line-up despite repeated claims by Sabah opposition parties to defend our State's rights?""Our BN's concept is that our leadership must include East and West Malaysia. However, PH's leadership model is dominated by West Malaysians and hence, East Malaysian representatives are not necessary and essential members to PH leadership, much less Sabahans. "Could Chan explain how PH would defend Sabah's rights without a single Sabahan in its core leadership? If PH can leave Sabah out from its line-up, how can Sabahans expect them to sincerely fight for our rights?" he said in a statement on Wednesday.
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Chin had challenged Chan to explain to the people of Sabah as to why DAP members of parliament (MPs) like Jimmy Wong, Stephen Wong and even Chan himself as an assemblyman were not appointed to the top leadership of PH. "Is it because Sabah is unimportant to PH and thus requires no representation?
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Instead of criticising LDP's comment on PH leadership, Chan should find out from DAP headquarters the reason no Sabahan representatives were nominated and appointed into the highest echelon of the opposition coalition. "I also doubted Chan's claim that PH leadership was born after a long negotiation as Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) were both established less than two years ago," he said.Chin also questioned Chan's remark that the three DAP members and three PPBM members in the leadership line-up reflected the existing strength and potential of the respective parties. "DAP is holding 36 parliamentary seats whereas PPBM only has one MP. Despite the huge difference in the number of MPs, PPBM is appointed to more important positions in PH," he said.Chin also rebuked Chan's statement that the prime consideration in selecting the leaders was to gain the confidence of the Malay community and set off a Malay tsunami. "This proves that the political goal of PH is incompatible with East Malaysia. "Sabah and Sarawak are multicultural states, comprising Malays, Kadazans, Ibans, Chinese and many other minority ethnic groups. Isn't trust between races important?" he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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