Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice-President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said SAPP's move to table a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister is a brave step that should be supported by everyone.
He said it does not matter who tables it but, more importantly, that the SAPP and other leaders from the Barisan Nasional (BN) support it.
The additional RM1 billion announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for Sabah recently, he said, was only a temporary measure and likened it to gula-gula (candy) to appease State leaders and the people.
"But it has not been given yet and if it is eventually givenÉit would not be sincere because it is given out of desperation," he told reporters at Sokid Villa, here, Wednesday.
Compared to the RM80 billion in oil revenue "taken" from Sabah, he said the RM1 billion would not be able to solve the various problems in the State.
On the other hand the PKR, he said, promises to give 20 per cent in oil royalty to the State if it were to form the Government, which would amount to between RM4b and RM5b. He said the additional RM1 million to each Barisan MP and RM400,000 to Assemblymen/women has a similar purpose, which is to prevent them from abandoning the BN. "It is not given out of sincerity."
Expressing delight that BN component parties have started to voice their dissatisfaction, he said the vote of no confidence against Pak Lah is also a reflection of no confidence in the BN.
"I hope there would be more leaders taking a brave stance (like SAPP) so that we in Sabah would be taken more seriously by the Federal Government," he said.
The situation, he said, is further aggravated with the increase in the prices of goods. He said the Government failed to differentiate between oil producing states and non-producing states as well as poor states and rich states.
"They also have not taken further steps to remedy the situation in Sarawak and Sabah," he said.
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
Sabah
19/06/08
PEOPLE'S POWER
1 comment:
There is a difference between UMNO and Barisan Nasional. I want to make it clear that it is not the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, but the UMNO government. It is not the government, but UMNO. Barisan Nasional is a coalition of unequals, not equals. UMNO is the big brother in BN. Therefore UMNO must be held responsible; and more importantly, UMNO must not be allowed to hide behind the BN banner. UMNO is the enemy, not BN.
I have come to the conclusion that the easy solution is to completely defeat UMNO in the next elections.
In the 2004 elections (11th General Election), the voters gave good support to Mr.Abdullah Badawi. But reforms did not come. Why? Probably because UMNO had done well in the elections. If UMNO had done well in the elections, then the election results tell UMNO that the voters are satisfied with the status quo. If the voters are satisfied with UMNO, then no reforms are necessary. In the 2008 elections (12th General Elections), UMNO did not do well, but she managed to win. UMNO did lose the 2/3 majority in the Parliament, but she did win, nevertheless. Will UMNO undertake reforms now? I would not be surprised if she did not. Why should she? UMNO is still the winner in the elections; and she can plan to rise and may even succeed to rise again. So, as long as she wins, she will never undertake the reforms. So, how do the voters get the reforms that they need? The voters will get the reforms when UMNO is completely defeated in the 13th General Elections. If UMNO wins zero seats in the next elections (13th General Elections), then some other party would have to rule Malaysia. Let us call it Party B. If UMNO is completely defeated in the next elections (13th General Elections), then Party B would rule Malaysia. Would Party B undertake reforms? If Party B does not undertake reforms, then voters would know what to do.
There is no doubt that UMNO has used gerrymandering to strengthen herself. If we removed gerrymandering from UMNO, then there would be a reduced UMNO. So the non-UMNO voters of Malaysia have good reasons to vote against UMNO.
It is possible that UMNO has used the Police Force to strengthen herself. The Police Force is required to be neutral. But is the Police Force neutral? I appeal to the Police Force to be neutral.
So, the next step for Malaysians is to completely defeat UMNO in the next elections.
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