Don’t be too ‘an -Malaya’ – PH Youth
Pakatan Harapan Sabah Youth has called on local opposi on par es in the state to ‘acknowledge’ the party’s presence in the fight against Barisan Nasional and not be too "an -Malaya".
KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah Youth has called on local opposition parties in the state to ‘acknowledge’ the party’s presence in the fight against Barisan Nasional (BN).
Its chief, Raymond Ahuar, said: “I just want to share my opinion on the issue of local parties and Pakatan Harapan.
“In the whole of Malaysia, there are 222 parliamentary seats. To secure the position of Prime Minister, a party would need to win at least half of these seats or 112 seats for a simple majority.
“In Sabah, we have only 25 seats. If we add Labuan, that will be 26 seats. Even if a party were to win all 26 seats, do you think they will be able to secure the Prime Minister’s position? The answer is ‘no’.
“The truth is, local (opposition) parties have to acknowledge Pakatan Harapan in its fight against BN,” he said, at the PH Youth Sabah welfare dinner at Sri Tanjung Restaurant on Saturday.
Commenting on the ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ sentiment, Raymond said, he has no qualms about the issue, as he sees himself as a pure Murut and a pure Sabahan.
“But I just want to tell the people that today’s problem is about GST. If you want to abolish GST, you would need to change the government in Putrajaya,” Raymond said, adding that the only way to implement such change is through PH.
Raymond called on the people of Sabah not to be too obsessed with the ‘anti-Malaya’ sentiment.
“Although the best motivation for us (PH) is the spirit of the youths, it is undeniable that money is also vital to support the proposed candidates of PH in the party’s quest to take down BN,” Raymond said.
He also said that PH Youth is ready to be in the front line of the party in the next election, regardless of whether any of the youths will be fielded as candidates.
Nik Nazmi said changing of the government is not something new for Sabah.
“Even before Selangor and Pulau Pinang changed their governments, Sabah had already done it first. So what I am asking from you (Sabahans) today is to give us (PH) that chance once again to change the government for the better,” he said.
“I am pleading for all Sabahans to take this opportunity that they have in their hands in the next election. Other than Kelantan, Sabah is the only other state that has no fear in making a change,” he stressed.
Such circumstances can only be made if PH forms the federal government in the next election, he said, adding that PH had shown good progress based on its performance in the last two elections.
He also said that the Barisan Nasional (BN) is wrong to consider Sabah and Sarawak as ‘fixed deposits’ in the next election.
“No matter how strong we (the opposition) are in Sabah, we will not be able to make any changes if we fail to take over Putrajaya,” he stressed, adding that the partnership between local opposition and PH is vital in achieving that goal.
Nik Nazmi revealed that the welfare dinner was aimed at raising funds for PH Youth’s preparation for the coming elections.
Among those present at the dinner were PH Youth national chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, PH Sabah chairperson Christina Liew, PH Youth national vice chairperson Yeo Bee Yin, Amanah Sabah chairman Hj Hamzah Abdullah and DAP Sabah secretary Chan Foong Hin.