SAPP JUST A NUISANCE, SAYS ABDULLAH

Bernama - Thursday, September 18

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it was apt that the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) left the Barisan Nasional (BN) as it was a only a nuisance to the coalition.

"They are only a problem in the party and a nuisance. Let them go, it's okay," he said when met at a breaking of the fast function with Cabinet ministers, menteris besar, chief ministers and deputy ministers at the home of Deputy Prime Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here tonight.

He said this when asked to comment about the decision by the SAPP to pull out of the BN at its Supreme Council meeting in Kota Kinabalu today.

At a press conference following the meeting, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee announced that the party no longer wanted to be in the BN and chose to be an independent party.

The decision, however, was not well received by two of its leaders, SAPP deputy president and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah, the state assemblyman for Elopura.

SAPP pulls out of Barisan

KOTA KINABALU: Finally rebellious Sabah Progressive Party has pulled out of Barisan Nasional after a four-hour supreme council meeting.

Except for two opposing the move, 30 of the 32 who attended Wednesday’s meeting backed party chief Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

Yong said his party will remain independent but will work with anyone and be in consultation with various parties including Pakatan Rakyat.

source: SAPP pulls out of Barisan ,, the star

SAPP: Ada ancaman untuk teruskan "undi tidak percaya"

SAPP alleges threats after no-confidence push

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A member party of Malaysia's ruling coalition, which has campaigned for a no-confidence vote against the prime minister, said yesterday its lawmakers had been threatened and bullied.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) dropped a bombshell last week when it called for the vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in a move analysts said could unleash defections to the opposition.

Its two lawmakers were absent from Parliament when it resumed yesterday. The party said they had been recalled to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah state on Borneo Island to discuss their safety and that of their families and offices.

"Events in the last 24 hours have taken a disturbing turn. Among others, we have received reports of intimidating and bullying tactics," the president of the Chinese-based party Yong Teck Lee said in a statement.

He said there had been text messages and phone calls "implying threats" to the two members of parliament (MP) and their aides, and that at a gathering of the ruling party United Malay National Organisation "aggressive words touching on racial incitement were used".

"In view of this disturbing turn of events, SAPP has taken extra caution for the safety of the MPs by calling them back to the party headquarters in Kota Kinabalu for consultations on the next course of action," he said.
The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance has said it is reluctant to mount a no-confidence vote, but would use a parliamentary debate yesterday on an unpopular fuel price hike as a test of confidence in the embattled government.

"The Pakatan Rakyat are trying to highlight the problems with the Government policies, and our opposition to today's motion shows the people's lack of confidence in Abdullah," said Azmin Ali, vice-president of the Keadilan party, which heads the alliance.

"This is something which we can use to send a message to the Government. The present leadership, especially the prime minister and the entire Cabinet, are incompetent to manage the economy and the future of Abdullah to lead this country is untenable," he told AFP.

Abdullah has been fighting for his political survival since March elections that saw the Opposition make unprecedented gains, netting a third of parliamentary seats and control of five states.
A 41 per cent petrol price hike imposed earlier this month, which has triggered widespread outrage and public protests, has made Abdullah's position even more tenuous.

SAPP endorsing Abdullah's concern.

KOTA KINABALU:
Friday June 20, 2008 MYT 5:55:51 PM
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) supreme council has endorsed the decision to support a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament on Monday.
The council, however, did not make any decision on its position in the Barisan Nasional
SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the supreme council endorsed the decision after considering all views.
Except for deputy presidents Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun and Likas assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan who are overseas, all supreme council members were present during meeting at the party's headquarters in Luyang.

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New Straits Times, Malaysia - 10 hours agoKUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday revealed the greed of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) chief Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee. ...