SAPP to contest 15 state seats – Yong
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is expected to vie for 13 to 15 state seats in the next election, said its president, Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee.
INANAM: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is expected to vie for 13 to 15 state seats in the next election, said its president, Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee.
Yong said the state constituencies which his party would be contesting in were mainly in the west coast and interior region, as well as possibly a seat in the east coast and Papar.
“The seats are mostly concentrated in the west coast such as Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tanjung Aru and Sepanggar.
“The constituencies are either Chinese majority or mixed,” he said at a press conference during a walkabout organized by the Sepanggar division of United Sabah Alliance (USA), or Gabungan Sabah, here yesterday.
The USA comprises four parties, namely Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS).
Yong, who is also USA Sepanggar chairman, said the next general election was most likely to be held during the school holidays in March or April next year.
He said the four parties in USA had almost finalized on the distribution of the existing 60 state seats.
“If the 60 state seats are maintained in the next election, SAPP will contest in 13 to 15 of the seats where we have grassroots support and winnability.”
Nonetheless, he said the coalition would make further adjustments if the additional 13 new states constituencies took effect in the next general election.
On the possibility of working with Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), Yong said USA would give Warisan time to sort out its internal affairs and ongoing case first.
“Maybe we will sit down and have a discussion with Warisan after the Chinese New Year.”
Asked if he hoped to strike a deal with Warisan, Yong replied: “It will be better if we can work with Warisan in the east coast. I think all of us understand (the reason).”
On another note, Yong said the walkabout yesterday aimed to introduce USA and its 15 core struggles to the people.
“We went to Telipok and Manggatal last week and will be heading to Sulaman Sentral and other locations next week.”
He said the alliance had received good response from the public during its walkabouts.
“The people have expressed their desire for a united local opposition front who will fight for Sabah.”
Yong said the people had also voiced their concerns on livelihood issues, such as price hike on goods and fuel, Goods and Services Tax (GST), as well as hardships faced by the young people, businesses and wage earners.
Also present at the walkabout were SAPP Inanam division chairman Datuk Eric Majimbun, STAR Inanam division chairman Jeffrey Kumin and Harapan Sepanggar division chairman Ashim Jamat.