Don’t discount Shafie – DAP Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: DAP Sabah, together with all its Members of Parliament and state assemblypersons, cautioned Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition leaders not to entirely discount East Malaysians from being put forward to lead the country.

Referring to the press statement issued by the PH presidential council yesterday, DAP Sabah in a joint statement on the same day said they respected the decision by the PH presidential council to reaffirm the coalition’s commitment for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be Prime Minister of Malaysia

“However, we would also like the previous federal government to consist not just PH parties (PPBM, DAP, PKR, Amanah) but also other parties from East Malaysia, most notably Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) and the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko).

“It is critical for the leaders of Pakatan Harapan to be conscious and be aware of who are friends and who are foes. From the very beginning, Shafie and his party Warisan had stood by PH through thick and thin.

“We stand by our previous statement that it is high time for an East Malaysian to lead the country as none of the previous prime ministers of Malaysia were from this region,” the statement said.

While DAP Sabah accepted and respected the decision made collectively by the PH presidential council in its meeting, they would like to reiterate that there was nothing stopping an

East Malaysian from becoming Prime Minister as any Malaysian Members of Parliament “are equally qualified to be nominated for the position.”

“No political coalition without the support of East Malaysians could rule the country. As such, we believe that the option for Shafie Apdal as Prime Minister candidate should remain open as long as Sabah remains an integral part of Malaysia.”

DAP Sabah also pointed out that Shafie as Chief Minister of Sabah had managed to unite people from diverse racial and religious backgrounds in Sabah by creating an accommodative environment where people from diverse cultures and religions could support each other.

“He is more than qualified to become Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaysia.”

The statement was jointly issued and signed on July 6 by Frankie Poon Ming Fung (N. 46 Tanjong Papat - DAP Sabah acting chairman); Chan Foong Hin (P. 172 Kota Kinabalu - DAP Sabah secretary); Noorita Sual (P. 181 Tenom - DAP Sabah vice chairperson); Jimmy Wong Sze Phin (N. 57 Sri Tanjong - DAP Sabah advisor); Phoong Jin Zhe (N. 16 Luyang - DAP Sabah chief); Jannie Lasimbang (N. 19 Kapayan - DAP Sabah Wanita chief); Adrian Banie Lasimbang (Senator, Dewan Negara - DAP Sabah Political Education director); Vivian Wong Shir Yee (P. 186 Sandakan); Tan Lee Fatt (N. 14 Likas - DAP Sabah assistant secretary); Calvin Chong Ket Kiun (N. 45 Elopura); and Ronnie Loh Ee Eng (nominated state assemblyperson - DAP Sabah treasurer).

The Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council remains committed to its original stand in naming Anwar as its prime minister candidate.

The council is giving its full mandate to Anwar to continue talks with all parties, including Shafie, to work on regaining the people’s mandate and for PH to take over as the Federal Government.

“We are of the stand that all efforts must be carried out to regain the people’s mandate and needs the support of all parties,” the council said in a joint statement issued by PKR, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and DAP yesterday.

At the same time, the council said it had also discussed the nomination of Shafie, who is Warisan president, as prime minister candidate.

It said PH was also consistent with its stand that the focus of the Federal and State Governments should be on helping the people post-Covid-19.

“In this regard, we are of the opinion that should snap elections be called before the current five-year term ends, then state governments under PH administration should continue and not be dissolved,” the statement read.

PH now rules Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

The council also unanimously rejected Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin’s motion that proposed to remove Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as Parliament speaker and DAP deputy secretary-general Nga Kor Ming as the deputy.