No right to stop Bersatu coming
Published on: Monday, December 17, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: No one has the right to stop or block Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) from coming to Sabah unless they are worried because, after all, Malaysia is a democracy. In fact, the entry of PPBM or Bersatu into Sabah would be value-added feature as it would further strengthen its counterparts under Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the State, said Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) President Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin. He said there is no law or provision in the Federal or State Constitution which states that peninsula-based political parties cannot come to Sabah and vice-versa.
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"There is no need to worry or be anxious whether PPBM will come to Sabah or not because if it does, then it (PPBM) will be seen as being a value-added party that fortifies the camaraderie spirit among the component parties of PH here. "If other peninsula-based political parties like Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS, DAP, and Amanah have long set their foot in Sabah, then why not PPBM? "What is the difference between these parties and PPBM? What we know is that PPBM is a party that will bring prominence and hopes at national level to replace a Malay-based party (Umno) in the country," he said, after opening Harapan Rakyat's annual meeting, Sunday. In the AGM, a motion to support and bring PPBM into Sabah was approved and well supported without debate by the thousands of delegates in the annual meeting here.
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Also present were PPBM Vice-President Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman and Harapan Rakyat's main committee and Supreme Council members. Lajim was commenting on a statement by Warisan Deputy President Datuk Darell Leiking that there is an understanding and agreement between Warisan and PPBM that the latter would not enter Sabah as Warisan is PH's ally.
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Darell had said he is confident that PPBM Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and its President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would honour their promises that PPBM would not enter Sabah. Lajim said anyone can say and give their opinion on the matter, including Darrel.In a related development, he said Harapan Rakyat which is a PH-friendly political party has pledged to render full support to the PH government led by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and also to the Warisan-led State government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal."We (Harapan Rakyat) will not compete against each other (in PH) in the coming 15th General Election (GE15) irrespective whether we are given seats to contest, but we will continue to give strong support to the existing parties and the present government."This includes us helping the current government to spread and help to explain present government policies to the people in Sabah," he said. Lajim said Harapan Rakyat is making the decision as it has seen the leadership of present government is different from the previous leadership of Barisan Nasional (BN) government that ruled the country for 61 years compared to PH government which just govern the country for seven months and has shown positive changes due to its openness.Hence, he said the open-minded approach by PH has made Harapan Rakyat realise the importance of supporting a government that is good, concern, and know what it should do for Sabah."Although, it cannot be denied that there are many claims and demands that need to be fulfilled by the Federal Government to Sabah, no government in the world can resolve those claims and demand all at once."However, the PH government has shown a sign of taking action to fulfil our claims of Sabah rights to them."Therefore, Harapan Rakyat is taking an approach not only to be friendly to PH but also giving solid support if we are meant by fate to be accepted as among the component parties in PH," Lajim said.Several months ago, on behalf of Harapan Rakyat, he has submitted an application to join PH to Tun Dr Mahathir and has yet to know the result.In this respect, Lajim said the party is doing follow-up from time to time on its application to join PH and good news on the application is what they hoped to bring happiness to the people of Sabah in terms of being vocal to bring development funds to the State.On whether Harapan Rakyat would be dissolved and they join as en bloc into PPBM, he said he would discuss such move with the Supreme Council but assured that they would not have two party-membership if PPBM comes to Sabah.On presence of PPBM Vice-President Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman in the Harapan Rakyat's annual conference, Lajim said Rashid is his old good friend and just accepting his (Lajim) personal invitation to be in the meeting."Since we are PH-friendly, I have personally invited Rashid, his (Rashid) presence should not be speculated or misunderstood."He is not here to give endorsement on anything, He is just here on personal invitation by Harapan Rakyat," he said, adding that Harapan Rakyat has 64,000 members with 24 divisions in Sabah and will increase to 100,000 members, by next year.Meanwhile Rashid told reporters that if PPBM is supported to spread its wing to Sabah, the party can bring a new leadership to unite the people and leaders in Sabah."I believe if PPBM comes to Sabah, it can provide the leadership that could unite the people of Sabah irrespective of their political affiliations."We want to develop Sabah and I support the Sabah for Sabahans slogan that was used during the GE14."But if the people of Sabah (including leaders) stay united and be good to one another, then I believe what the Sabah people demand and claim (on State rights) be thoroughly looked into by the Federal Government," said Rashid, who was formerly the Election Commission Chairman. He said every party in Sabah would have the same struggle to demand and claims for Sabah rights from the Federal government.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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