Why I chose Anak Negeri?

I HAVE to tell my story why I have taken a big gamble to move from a big national party DAP to an unknown new party called Parti Anak Negeri, in short Anak Negeri.

I do not have a choice since my relationship with the Chairman of Sabah DAP Stephen Wong is beyond redemption.

As a leader he should not have gone back against his promise not to contest in a party election.

Junz left DAP with eight state committee members rendering Stephen unable to lead.

I took the offer to fill in the Deputy Chairman post only to realize that my relationship with Stephen was worse than I thought.

I left the party to keep the harmony in the DAP. The people of Sandakan will decide on the fate of Stephen Wong in GE14. Likewise, the people of Penampang will also decide on my fate when I contest under Parti Anak Negeri.

As I embarked to promote Parti Anak Negeri I am faced with a few obstacles. First it is a new party and the people's response was ‘huh, a new party, another opposition party'. I am asked why did I ‘jump' from a big party to a lesser known party?

This very question puts me miles apart from others who have shifted to other parties. They also asked me how to choose from the heap of opposition parties.

I know I have taken a big gamble here. However, I do have high regards for my voters and supporters in Penampang because of their high literacy, internet savvy and the ability to think rationally.

Here, I would like to share my views on how to choose the one opposition party that will emerge as a top contender against the BN.

During my acceptance speech as a member of Parti Anak Negeri I had clearly emphasized that the name of the party ‘Anak Negeri' has attracted and caught my attention.

In Article 153 of the Federal Constitution the rights and privileges of the Malay and the Native (Anak Negeri) of Sabah and Sarawak are spelt out very clearly.

To me, Parti Anak Negeri is the right party for the Anak Negeri. I am also excited when the party conducted a simple but solemn ceremony in Kg Tinangol Matunggung to embrace the Chinese community as Anak Negeri.

I can see that this party is meant to unite and fight for all Sabahans and Malaysians who have resided in Sabah for a long time.

I spoke from my experience as a veterinarian that a horse race comprises more than five animals. In a horse race the punters have the opportunity to view and study the horses prior to the race.

The punters are also given a preview and performance background of the horses in the race. The punters are also given lots of tips inside and outside the race course, about the horses and their jockeys. Here, there is only one winner.

This is basically the same with politics that involve many contesting parties. Here, the voters must list down all the parties and their main leaders. It is like an objective question. This is called choosing and selecting through a system of elimination.

The voters must look at the performance of the other opposition parties during GE13 and study the background, credibility and integrity of the Party including their main leaders. Are you happy with the party and leaders?

Parti Anak Negeri is led by Datuk Henrynus Amin, a former MP for Ranau and Secretary General of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

He never held any ministerial post in the BN government. My move to Parti Anak Negeri has given this new party its first assembly seat. The other leaders are from the academic field such as Dr Paul Porodong as its Secretary General and Dr Oswald Igau from Keningau. Both have resigned from the comfort zone at UMS to join Parti Anak Negeri. We have from the business sector such as Thomas Tsen, Terrance Tsen and Roger Chong. Others are active in religious activity such as Daibi Mandadi from Kadamaian, former government servants such as Peter Beaty and Ingah and many more.

The label that Anak Negeri is BN-friendly is one label that we strongly dispute and reject outright.

Parti Anak Negeri has also been labelled as a mosquito party and that their leaders are greenhorns.

Greenhorns are important quality in a political party as their political struggle is still clean. Now what I am trying to say here is the ‘freshness' of the leaders of Parti Anak Negeri, qualified in their own field of expertise, ready to administer the Sabah government when given the chance by the voters in GE14.

I believe Parti Anak Negeri will contest enough seats to form the government but will not reject the idea of forming a new and strong coalition government.

My take is the battlelines in GE14 are already drawn. It will be a battle between the old (BN) and new parties such as Anak Negeri.