Seize chance to reject Malaya parties: Yong

KOTA KINABALU - Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional are just two sides of the same coin and Sabahans would suffer if they continued to vote for these Malayan parties.

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said in substance and in every way, the two coalitions are the same because they only have Malaya's interests in mind despite parading themselves as the true saviour of Malaysia.

"How to save Malaysia when the Malaya parties are destroying Malaysia? Look at their leaders' records and what they have been saying about each other.

"How can DAP talk about excluding PAS from government when they are in the same government with PAS? Look at Selangor. Isn't DAP in the same government as PAS? This says a lot about the hypocrisy of DAP politics," he said in his speech after attending the SAPP CLC Tanjung Aru branch's annual general meeting, here, Sunday.

The former Chief Minister admitted it is possible the voters in Malaya, fed up with the antics of the current government, would vote for Pakatan Harapan in the coming general election bccause they have no other choice.

However, he said Sabah voters have a choice to either reject the racial and religious extremism of these Malaya parties or get behind local parties who truly understand the aspirations and demands of true Sabahans.

For too long, he said, Sabah's rights, as set under Malaysia Agreement 1963, were ignored and dismissed with disregard by Putrajaya.

Hence, local leaders who are tired of Malaya's politics decided to unite under one banner, called United Sabah Alliance or (Gabungan Sabah to defend Sabah's rights under the slogan "Sabahans for Sabah, Sabah for Sabahans."

The coalition of four local opposition parties, namely SAPP, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star),  Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS), is brought together because of their shared vision and mission.

Its 15-core struggles for the State include issues that are close to the people's hearts such as full autonomy, Sabah IC, oil and gas rights, abolishment of cabotage policy and zero GST.

Yong said the alliance has been holding local conventions all over Sabah and will continue to do so because Sabahans must rise up and regain their rights and autonomy which can only be attained under the USA.

"It does not matter if election is this year or next year. Sooner or later, there will be elections. Sabahans must seize this chance to reject Malaya parties and opt for local parties that stand for Sabah rights," he said.

SAPP, he said, has been proven right time and again with its predictions of what BN would do if they were re-elected.

"During the election, we said BN will increase fuel price, there will be new taxes, prices of things will skyrocket and cause much sufferings to the people. Voters ignored the warnings. They put BN back into the government.

"In the last election, there were no 1MDB issue, no RM2.6 billion donation scandal and there was no GST. Things have only gotten worse.

"It is therefore better for Sabahans to vote local opposition parties because there is better chance for succeed in our struggle for Sabah，he said.

Daily Express:Tracy Patrick 21/08/2017