Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Reform Movement (APS) wants to consolidate with other local based pro-opposition political organisations and parties under a single Sabah or Borneo-based opposition front, like Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the peninsula. The decision was made during its first meeting held after the general election, chaired by its chairman and Tamparuli Assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, at the Sutera Golf and Country Club here Wednesday.
He said during the meeting, they decided to talk to other pro-opposition non-governmental organisations and political parties "on the prospect of us having a consolidation to become the Sabah Opposition Front."
"Because there is a need for a Sabah or Borneo-based political party or pact, and this was also based on feedback from the ground opposition supportersÉso we are going to discuss this with other political NGOs and parties about this," he told reporters during a press conference held after the meeting.
Bumburing said it is subject to discussion on whether all the pro-opposition NGOs and parties in Sabah involved would form a new Sabah-based opposition party or just a pact or any other kind of platform.
"It would be too early now to say on what form it would be. But this would be decided under a consensus," he said.
"It was based on the mood (of the opposition supporters) on the ground that there is a need to have a Sabah or Borneo-based opposition party or pactÉthis is also one lesson learnt from the 13th General Election experience," he added.
He said they will have the discussion to be held as soon as possible before the next State Legislative Assembly sitting.
Bumburing said during the meeting, they have also decided to continue with APS and not join any other opposition party.
"APS is now still an non-governmental organisation but accepted as a component of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). We will remain as it is for now.
"There is a question of whether APS is going to be a political party and our response to this is that we are working on it," he added.
"We have discussed about it and is looking at the people's expectation of us to become a real political party. One of the options is to register APS as a political party while, at the same time, we are also opened to other alternatives," he said.
Asked whether they have decided among them (12 opposition elected representatives) on who would lead them at the State Legislative Assembly sitting scheduled middle of next month, he said there are some who wanted to lead but "we will have this settled before the sitting is held."
During the meeting they also discussed on reports received on alleged irregularities in the recent election.
"We are currently studying the reports, to decide whether to submit an election petition.
Some seems to have very solid evidences but anyhow we would consult our panel of lawyers on the matter firstÉthere is still ample time for the submission of election petitions," he said.
He said APS is not happy with the use of indelible ink which in reality can be easily washed, adding that many people suspected that there are also postal voters who voted for the second time during the actual polling day.
"There are claims of ordinary voters having in possession of ballot papers meant for postal voters, where instead of posting the ballot papers they would keep it and only use it during actual polling day."
"There was also an incident where a ballot paper cast in Tuaran ended up in Putatan and this was found out during the counting processÉwe have strong evidence on this.
"The question is how does all these can happen? And also how come it takes so long time for a ballot box from a polling station located just within a walking distance to the tallying centre (where all the ballot boxes were sent to) like what happened in the constituency where I contested. So there is some mystery there!!Éwe are also looking at this," said Bumburing.
APS will hold its first annual general meeting on July 29 this year, which also coincides with its first anniversary.
