KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is surprised that Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal has accepted the recommendation of Democratic Action Party (DAP) to appoint a non-Sabahan as a nominated assemblyman.
Penang-born Loh Ee Eng has lived in Sabah for many years.
SUPP secretary general Datuk Sebastian Ting said it was not the intention of the party to interfere with Sabah and Sabah politics but the new development might have a serious impact on Sarawak and Sarawak politics.
“It is very likely that this appointment will spark controversies in Sabah. Indeed, some quarters in Sabah had expressed their unhappiness and questioned the rationale of such appointment,” Ting said in a statement yesterday.
He said even though Loh had lived in Sabah for many years, the legal constitutional question was whether a non-Sabahan could be appointed as a nominated assemblyman.
“Since he is a non-Sabahan, does he have a work permit in order to stay on in Sabah? If he does not have a work permit, in what capacity is he allowed to stay on in Sabah?” he queried.
Ting added that even if it was constitutionally legal for Loh to be appointed as a nominated assemblyman, such appointment seemed to drive home a negative perception that there was no other qualified Sabahan DAP member in Sabah suitable for such appointment.
“Surely, Sabah must have plenty of capable and qualified persons to take up this role as nominated assemblyman, if offered a chance?
“What would be the thoughts of the ordinary Sabahans on having a Peninsula Malayan sit in their Legislative Assembly and purportedly to represent them?
“Would Loh be able to protect and safeguard the rights of Sabah and the people of Sabah? Would he be answerable to his Malayan DAP boss or is he answerable to the call to protect the rights of Sabah? There is an apparent and serious conflict of interest in such case,” he said.
Ting said Sarawakians must never allow such things to happen in Sarawak.
“Fortunately, our Sarawak Constitution does not provide and allow our Chief Minister absolute power to appoint nominated assemblymen.
“We should take heed and be alert that when and if Malayan parties are in control of our Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN), they are more than likely to bulldoze through many decisions in accordance with the Malayan agenda. For an example, top of the list will be to abolish or remove the immigration autonomy for a start,” warned Ting.
Hence, he said it was reasonable to expect that many amendments would be introduced to amend or repeal Sarawak Ordinances to suit the Malayan agenda, to the detriment of the rights of Sarawak and our people.
“One cannot really imagine what would happen if Malayan parties are to rule Sarawak,” he said.
“SUPP is proud to note that Sarawak had never politically appointed a state assemblyman all these years. All the 82 Sarawak state assemblymen are elected by the people through a fair and just election.
“We would like to reiterate that Gabungan Party Sarawak (GPS) is a political alliance formed by four Sarawak parties, namely PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP and is led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who puts all his energies and efforts into fighting for the rights of Sarawak and the people of Sarawak pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), in particular our oil and gas resources, amongst others.
“SUPP would like to urge all our fellow Sarawakians to stand united, to protect and safeguard Sarawak in all matters for the benefit of the state and in the best interests of all Sarawakians as a whole.
“We must indeed be very wary of any new promises by the Malayan agents, notwithstanding they have yet to fulfill their earlier promises,” said Ting.
