Published on: Saturday, September 06, 2008 |
Kota Kinabalu: Leaders of several Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in Sabah expressed disgust at the ongoing rumours of Sabah BN parties defecting to Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
They were even surprised by rumours that seven BN component parties were purportedly holding a news conference in the evening to announce their defection, the rumours augmented by a Short Messaging Service (SMS) text circulated by unknown persons in the name of the Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, on the non-existent news conference.
The rumours came in the wake of statements by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser and parliamentary opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the PR would form the Federal government by Sept 16 following the defection of BN MPs.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Deputy President Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said "we cannot tolerate any more this kind of story (of forming the Government).
"Such a rumour has created political instability and fear among the people and even (affected) public safety," he said, and called on the
Government to take action against rumour-mongers who tried to destabilise the country.
He said PBS was loyal to the BN, and the question of PBS MPs joining the PR did not arise.
"Based on the feedback from the grassroots, there is no sign of BN MPs, especially from PBS, crossing over as claimed by the opposition," he said.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Datuk VK Liew said the party was not involved in any discussion with Anwar to defect to PR.
"The Government formed through the backdoor is undemocratic. We in LDP don't uphold and subscribe to such a government," he said.
He said he hoped that the people would not be swayed by the opposition's "dirty tactics" to unseat a democratically-elected BN government.
United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Deputy President Datuk Wilfred Bumburing also dismissed talk of defection by the party's MPs to PKR.
However, Bumburing, who is Tuaran MP, declined to comment further on the matter. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice-president and Tawau MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui said the issue of defection was not discussed within the party.
"We never discussed any defection," she said without elaborating.
Earlier, Sabah Parliamentary Back Benchers Club Chairman and Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman denied widespread speculation that some BN MPs from Sabah would defect to the PR starting today, saying "no Sabah BN MPs, including from Umno, have indicated their intention to defect".
