Backdoor politics of Gerakan

Crossovers within BN ‘unethical’, says LDP


Peninsular based Gerakan's brazen bid to lure members from other Barisan Nasional component parties in Sabah to boost its membership is irking LDP.

KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president VK Liew is disappointed that the Barisan Nasional (BN) spirit once upheld by its Sabah partners has melted away.



The rapid switch of members from one BN political party to another which is more closely aligned to Chief Minister Musa Aman, who is also the state BN chairman, has set tongues wagging and provoked Liew to chastise them.

He said BN component party members who had chosen to align themselves with other parties in the ruling coalition had failed to understand the BN spirit.

He acknowledged that some from his own party had decided to join fellow BN component party Gerakan.

Gerakan has taken on the unlikely role of spoiler by accepting all-comers.

It recently gained a backdoor-entry into mainstream politics, despite not contesting in the last election, pushing LDP to a corner.

“I saw in the newspapers some faces from LDP who purportedly have left the party to join Gerakan.

“I am disappointed because it is as though they do not know that it will only reflect badly on their image.

“This is not what the leadership wants since it will not have any bearings on the BN membership statistics at all,” said Liew  when asked to comment on the issue of pinching members from among BN component parties in the state.

Liew, who is also a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the BN leadership wanted the component parties to strive to increase membership by recruiting those who have yet to join any party or those from the oppositions.

“But getting so-called new members from another component party will not increase the BN membership,” he said.

Unethical trend

Indirectly criticising Musa and Gerakan, Liew noted that the pinching of members had been ongoing for quite some time and said “this is so unethical”.

“It will only mislead the leadership that the particular component managed to boost their membership only to know that their new members are in fact from another component,” he said.

He challenged Gerakan, who have openly enticed LDP and other BN party members to ditch their present parties and join them, to sign up at least a quarter million young members who are still not registered as voters to prove their popularity.

Meanwhile, Liew admitted that LDP had submitted several names to the Prime Minister to be considered for a senatorship after reports emerged that LDP deputy president Chin Su Phin would be appointed as one under the federal quota.

“We are still waiting and of course the decision is the prerogative of the Prime Minister,” he said.

By Charlie Rudai

LDP blasts Gerakan Au for Greed

SANDAKAN: The Labeling of Liberal Democraric party (LDP) as termites by Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah Is uncalled for, said Albert Kok, the political secretary to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk VK Liew.

"The statement by Au, who ditched SAPP in 2008 and joined Gerakan later, alleging LDP to clamour for positions could not be more true about himself and the party he just joined.


It is widely known that he together with Raymond Tan abandoned SAPP so that they both can keep their positions in the government Au should therefore look at himself in the mirror and his own 'new party' before he talked about others,” Kok said.

He said despite losing in the last election in 2008 and Gerakan almost wiped out, Koh Tsu Koon made himself available as a senator and accepted the offer to be a federal minister, Even his previous predecessor, Tun Lim Keng Yaik, was reported to have advised Koh against accepting but he could not care less and instead accepted the position with open arms.

"As one of the more senior members in BN, when the State Government offer to retain Peter Pang, who had quit LDP to join Gerakan, Koh should be wise enough not to accept the offer as there was already another new Gerakan member namely Raymond Tan in the State Cabinet.

"However, knowing it would draw the ire and condemnation of the people in Sabah, and knowing that Gerakan has not contested in Sabah in the last general election, Koh gladly accepted it. Is this not reflection of their own greed to clamour for governnent’s positions?" Kok said in a statement yesterday.

He added that Peter Pang had only been in Gerakan for less than two days but he continued to be retained as Minister of Youth and Sport under Gerakan.

Au is relatively a more 'senior' member in Gerakan than Peter Pang, an assemblyman for Elopura earlier before even Peter Pang knew what politics was and more experienced then Peter Pang starting from his time in SAPP, he said.

"It is odd that he was not preferred by his new boss to be in the recent cabinet reshuffle. Was it because he was offered to continue to hold the positions of chairman in other government agencies in Sabah?

"If Au is a man of principle at all and subscribe to the BN's principle, he should be the first one to tell his new found party leader that it was against BN s principle to accept Peter Pang who quit LDP to join another BN component party namely Gerakan,” he said.

But Au kept quiet and gladly welcomed Peter Pang, unashamedly, because by doing so he knows Gerakan has now another cabinet position in the government. That speaks volume of Au’s personality, said Kok.

He said before criticising others, Au should put his new house in order first.

"Au should tell his new found leader to be changed first and take responsibility for the losses suffered by his new party in the last election.

"Ong Ka Ting, despite having won his parliamentary seat in 2008, took responsibility for the losses MCA suffered in the election. Ong resigned as MCA president then and Ong Tee Keat took over before being taken over by Chua Soi Lek.

"It shows that at least Ong Ka Ting has principle and does not clamour for government position unlike some.

"We have seen MCA openly asking for the change of leadership in Sarawak following the recent election there. In fact many others have indicated the same sentiment.

"Does it mean that the BN government in Sarawak must also issue a show cause letter to all those who asked for the CM of Sarawak to go?

“In this regard, Au Kam Wah should tell his liaison chief in Sabah, Gordon Leong, to understand politics better and read what had happened,” he said.

Kok said if indeed there were any change of leadership required, Au should suggest changes in Gerakan’s central leadership and that include those in Sabah.

Source: BP

LDP fires salvo at ‘hypocritical’ Gerakan

The peninsular-based party is told to first look at themselves in the mirror before accusing others of clamouring for positions in the government.

KOTA KINABALU: After weeks of accusations and counter accusations between the oldest state BN coalition party, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and its BN partners, Sabah Gerakan leaders stand accused of being hypocritical for demanding a standard they have failed to live up to.
“Gerakan should first look at themselves in the mirror, before accusing others of clamouring for positions in the government,” LDP publicity chief Albert Kok said yesterday.

He slammed the recent statement by Sabah Gerakan leader cum Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah mocking LDP leaders for clamouring for positions in the government.

“This couldn’t be more true about himself and the party he just joined,” said Kok.

“It is widely known that he together with Raymond Tan abandoned SAPP so that they could both keep their positions in the government. Au Kam Wah should therefore look at himself in the mirror and his own ‘new party’ before he talks about others,” the LDP man said in a bitter rebuttal.

Kok pointed out that Gerakan leaders in Sabah should not be so bold as to start accusing others of low standards when their own chief, Koh Tsu Koon had eagerly accepted his appointment as a Senator in order to became a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, despite losing his seat in last election which saw the party almost wiped out.

“Even his predecessor, Dr Lim Keng Yaik reportedly advised him against accepting (the appointments) but Koh couldn’t care less and accepted the position with open arms,” Kok said.

Greedy Koh
Kok also pointed out how Gerakan had eagerly wooed former LDP leader Peter Pang as another glaring example of Gerakan demanding for positions in the government.

He said that since Gerakan did not contest in Sabah in the last general election, the party should have been gracious enough not to accept more seats in the state cabinet as there was already another newly joined Gerakan member, namely Raymond Tan, in the state cabinet.

“Is this not reflection of their own greed for government positions?” he asked, while querying Au’s principles as well as his failure to advise his party chief that it was against BN policy to recruit a member from another BN party.

“Au kept quiet and gladly welcomed Peter Pang, unashamedly, because by doing so he knew Gerakan had got another cabinet position,” he said.

Kok also urged Au to tell Koh to take responsibility for the losses suffered by Gerakan in the last election in the same way former MCA chief Ong Ka Ting took responsibility for the losses it suffered in the 2008 general election, although he won his parliamentary seat.

“Ong resigned as MCA president then. It shows that at least Ong Ka Ting has principles and does not clamour for government positions unlike some,” he said.

By Queville To

LDP are like termites: Gerakan

Elopura Assemblyman Au Kam Wah urged the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership to stop behaving like termites whose gnawing at the State Barisan Nasional's structure may eventually cause the coalition's collapse, if left unchecked.

"This is precisely the attitude of the present LDP leadership who seem to have no qualms going all out to cause serious damage to the very house that houses them, in this case the Barisan Nasional," said Au.

He also said instead of calling for a change in the State Barisan Nasional leadership, it is LDP that should change some of its leaders.
"BN has never been a problem to LDP. Therefore the call for a change of leadership in State BN is simply outrageous and uncalled for.

What LDP must do is change some of its own leadership, have a face lift and move on," he said.

He also concurred with Gerakan Sabah Chairman Datuk Gordon Leong's call on the BN top leadership to seriously consider issuing a show cause letter and take necessary disciplinary action against the LDP leadership, if they continue undermining the integrity and stability of the BN coalition in the State.

Au noted that the LDP leadership had been attacking the State leadership ever since its former President-cum-former Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat had a fall-out with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman over the Mazu statue issue.

Chong even proceeded to take the State Government to court in 2009, but it was later struck out by the Court of Appeal. He believed that Chong still has some influence on the LDP today.

According to him, all the previous and recent statements of the LDP leadership were uncalled for, baseless, malicious and clearly designed to undermine the integrity of Sabah BN.

He noted such criticisms consistently and clearly indicated that they were of personal interest.

"Their dissatisfaction was clearly due to not getting positions in the government which they desperately wanted. It was clearly a sour grape syndrome.

"Records show that they hardly bring up any significant issues that genuinely concerned the people. It's all about position, position and position.

"And as for its so-called most vocal leader Chin Su Phin, everyone in town knew that he's a contractor by profession, who has benefitted immensely."

He said BN's major victory in the Batu Sapi by-election last year was strong evidence that the current setup of Sabah BN under Musa's leadership, is strong and functioning well.

"Compared to the time when the LDP President was holding the CM post, Musa has given more funding to the Chinese community, especially for Chinese education. In fact, the huge difference in the amount would put Kah Kiat to shame. This is public knowledge.

"Moreover, when Musa was urged by the public to reconsider the setting up of a coal-fired power plant, he brought the issue to the State Cabinet and had it cancelled.

"However, when the public requested Kah Kiat to reduce gambling, he instead doubled the number of slot machines in Sabah and re-activated a 4D operation that had been cancelled.

"Perhaps the LDP leaders are also having selective memory losses, so bad that they need to be constantly reminded of their misdeeds in the past!" charged Au.

He thus urged the LDP leaderships not to attempt to cover up their own incompetence which led to the decline of the party, by blaming others.

He said such an attitude was not only irresponsible but giving the opposition an opportunity to undermine the BN.

He reminded that ever since the formation of LDP, the party had been losing some of their senior leaders, all of which were due to internal squabbles that were often linked to manipulations by individuals with selfish motives.

Source: Daily Express

Sabah Gerakan: ‘LDP not welcome in BN anymore’

Chinese-dominated Liberal Democratic Party, Sabah Barisan Nasional's oldest ally stands at a crossroad facing calls from its rivals within the coalition to quit following its public criticism of Chief Minister Musa Aman.

KOTA KINABALU: An all out war has been declared within the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition under Chief Minister Musa Aman against the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Gerakan Sabah is the latest BN coalition partner to have joined in the LDP-bashing spree following the senior coalition party’s outspoken criticism of the chief minister who is also the state BN chairman.

Gerakan Sabah chairman Gordon Leong urged Musa to seriously consider issuing a showcause letter and to take necessary disciplinary action against LDP for disrespect.

Leong in a statement issued here today said its fellow BN coalition member was undermining the integrity and stability of the State leadership.

Describing LDP’s criticism as “uncalled for childish behaviour that reflects their political immaturity and such an attitude is misleading the public,” he said LDP was not welcome in the BN any longer.

“Their constant uncalled for public outcries contradict themselves by not respecting our PM’s decision and strong support of the State BN leadership of Sabah, in particular Musa Haji Aman,” said Leong.

He rubbished the LDP leadership’s claim that they have been sidelined by the State BN leadership despite being a long standing component party of BN.

Leong pointed out that after the shock resignation of former LDP president Chong Kah Kiat as the Minister of Tourism and Environment,one of its leaders Liew Yun Fah was made the Minister of Youth and Sports only to be dropped by the LDP leadership at the following general election who later revoked of his membership.

Public outburst

He said after the 12th General Election, Peter Pang was appointed Minister of Youth and Sports and later appointed Deputy Chief Minister following the departure of SAPP from BN, while Pang Yuk Ming was appointed Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development.

“Unfortunately, last September Pang quit LDP as he could not agree with the party’s public outburst that it could not work with the Chief Minister.

“Hence, no prize for answering the question “Who sidelined who?”.

“LDP should know full well that they cannot have their cake and eat it. One cannot help wondering  if LDP is with the opposition or with BN.
“We are especially puzzled when the DAP Sabah chairman Jimmy Wong voiced its support for LDP’s stand,” he added.
He suggested the LDP leadership should consider quitting the coalition if they really can no longer commit to the political struggles of BN.
“They should be brave enough to take the next course of action, which is to quit the coalition to prove that they can get and enjoy the support of the people,” he said.

“LDP should not cry foul and be a sour grape simply because their opinion differs from that the majority of the other BN component parties.

“After all we live in a democratic country. Let us be reminded that there is no room for personal grudges within the BN.

“The BN component parties should instead close ranks and concentrate on how to serve the rakyat diligently under the umbrella of BN so as to guarantee a landslide victory for BN in the coming general election,” he added.

Leong poured praise on Musa, who has favoured the peninsula-based party with key appointments in his cabinet, and said Gerakan would “continue to give its fullest unequivocal support for his capable and able leadership”.

Queville To

Nelson Manjin nafi ahli SAPP

KENINGAU, April 23, 2011: Seorang usahawan Nelson Manjin 38, menafikan sekeras kerasnya pembabitannya dalam Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) seperti yang dilaporkan dalam New Sabah Times  baru baru ini ketika menyertai Parti Gerakan bersama kira kira 300 yang lain dalam satu majlis disini baru baru ini.

Tegasnya, beliau kesal dengan laporan tersebut yang disifatkannya tidak tepat kerana beliau tidak pernah menyatakan demikian kepada akhbar berkenaan yang beliau dan rakan rakannya menyertai Parti Gerakan adalah bekas ahli ahli SAPP.

"Saya sendiri mengakui tidak pernah menyertai mana mana parti termasuk SAPP sebelum ini, dan bila laporan itu terpampang diakhbar membuatkan saya terkejut kerana tidak tepat," kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan disini ketika dihubungi Harian Ekspress pada Sabtu.

Nelson berkata, selepas laporan akhbar itu beliau dihujani berbagai pertanyaan daripada rakan rakan berhubung perkara tersebut dan ada diantaranya menasihatkan beliau supaya mengadakan kenyataan akhbar menjelaskan kedudukkan sebenar isu tersebut.

Beliau yang menetap di Taman Motow disini ketika diminta menjelaskan jumlah sebenar ahli ahli seramai 300 yang menyertai Parti Gerakan baru baru ini, sedang dalam gambar kelihatan bilangannya agak sedikit berbanding seperti gambar yang dirakam dalam akhbar itu beliau berkata,

"Ahli ahli lain yang menyertai parti ini datangnya dari luar daerah dan ada juga dari Kota Kinabalu..(jadi) kebanyakkan yang lain tidak dapat hadir pada masa itu tetapi borang kemasukan ada dihantar kepada saya yang menjadikan semua jumlahnya 300 orang. Bagaimana pun semua jumlah itu dikenal pasti tidak berparti," jelas Nelson.

Nelson seterusnya menyatakan rasa kesalnya laporan tersebut dan memohon maaf kepada SAPP kerana secara tidak sengaja parti itu dibabitkan dalam urusan tersebut.

Beberapa hari lalu, sebuah akhbar tabloid tempatan melaporkan bahawa Nelson Manjin bekas pemimpin Pergerakan Pemuda SAPP Pedalaman bersama sama dengan 300 ahli SAPP menyertai Parti Gerakan dalam satu majlis disini.

Borang borang kemasukan mereka telah diserahkan kepada Naib Presiden Parti Gerakan yang juga mantan Naib Presiden LDP Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah ketika dalam majlis tersebut baru baru ini.

Exodus of 300 SAPP members in Keningau to Gerakan is a lie

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) denied that 300 of its members have joined Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, Gerakan in Keningau.

Its Interior Zone Youth chief, Rudy Mairi said that even the so-called leader of the 300 people, Nelson Manjin was never even a member of SAPP let alone become the youth chief of SAPP keningau.

"He has only taken the application form to join SAPP but never submitted it," said Rudy in a statement here Thursday.


He was responding to a report in a local tabloid on Wednesday saying that SAPP suffered a big blow when 300 of its members led by Nelson joined Gerakan.

In this respect, Rudy urged Gerakan to really check the background of the people wanting to join them and not be too hasty in accepting people claiming to be holding position in the party they were leaving.

"As they are so desperate in getting new members, they (Gerakan) will just accept anybody who claim to be this and that without making homework on the actual identity of the person.

"Now we want to ask if the leader of the group joining Gerakan is already telling lies about him being in SAPP what about this 300 people. Who are there?"

"So far, SAPP headquarters have yet to receive any resignation letter from members in Keningau," he said, adding that SAPP's strength in Keningau remained intact despite the blatant lie, which was aimed at weakening the party.

"The only real SAPP members who have left the party and joined Gerakan were Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah. However, Tan, who wanted to protect his Deputy Chief Minister post but in the end demoted. In almost the same situation, his predecessor Datuk Peter Pang was also demoted despite joining Gerakan after leaving his old party," he said.

"Raymond, don't pretend"

By Datuk Richard Yong

 

Datuk Raymond Tan should not pretend he is ignorant about the problems in Sabah.

Datuk Raymond talked about the need to find out why the Chinese voted opposition in Sarawak and support the saying of the Prime Minister that "if you are in touch with the people, you will get their support."

Raymond talked as if he is new in politic when in actual fact he has been in government for 17 years holding senior ministerial posts including that of Deputy Chief Minister. He should not pretend not to know the tons of problems faced by Sabah people.

I agreed his saying that Sabah is different from Sarawak. Yes, Sabah is different because Sabah has got more problems particularly in the case of illegal immigrants and fake IC.

Sabah, now being the poorest State with the highest hardcore poverty rate plagued by the illegal immigrants, fake IC, lack of job opportunities, muddy road, collapsed bridges, land grabs, fish bombing, environmental hazard, economic imbalances, forced evacuation. The lists can go on and on.

Can Datuk Raymond say he does not know of all these problems? The truth is he never touched on these issues and that had helped him keeping his post in government.

A lot of the people's representatives had let themselves turned into "Yes men".

Raymond also said that he doesn't feel the "winds of change" would blow in Sabah.

All the problems are serious and have long lasting effect on Sabah and the children of Sabah. Do you expect the people allow all these problems remain unsolved and still let the same government stay?!

Change will come, one way of another. Either the government change or the people will change the government!

 

Datuk Richard Yong is the Secretary-General of SAPP

Nazri slams Gerakan’s ‘Punjabi boy’

Patrick Lee

Baljit Singh comes under fire from the minister over his call for Najib and his Cabinet to prove their moral standards.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan leader Baljit Singh has drawn flak for calling on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his Cabinet to take individual religious vows to prove that they are of impeccable moral standing.

Rubbishing the call, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said Barisan Nasional leaders were not speaking from a moral high ground.

“Tell this Punjabi boy, where is he coming from? Is he from BN or is he from the opposition?” he told FMT yesterday.

On Wednesday, Baljit, who heads Penang Gerakan’s legal and human rights bureau, said BN leaders must take the vow to prove that they were better than Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The vocal BN leader was responding to the latest sex video scandal which implicated Anwar, and had told the latter’s detractors that “he who has not sinned, shall cast the first stone”.

However, Nazri, in taking a swipe at Anwar, said those who wished to become prime minister must have high moral standards.

“I don’t talk about morality. We don’t preach. We don’t aspire to be prime minister. Those who aspire to be PM must show high morals.

“Why should we take a vow of morality when we have done nothing wrong? We are not saying we are angelic or anything like that. It is about the (sex) video. I don’t have a video, so why should I take a vow?” he said.

The minister added that the call to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) would not have arose if the opposition did not jump to conclusions and blame BN for the video.

“Had they not blamed us, we won’t be called to make such statements or to call for a RCI,” he said.

The minister also launched a broadside on Baljit for slamming Nazri for stating that Anwar’s wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was not the right person to identify the man in the video.

“If this Punjabi is smart enough, he should realise that there is a conflict of interest (involving Anwar and Wan Azizah).

“Any ordinary person will understand that if you have a conflict of interest, you cannot be a party to investigate your husband’s identity. She is his wife, and this is the conflict,” he said.

In taking Nazri to task over this, Baljit had previously asked if Nazri knew Anwar’s body better than Wan Azizah.