SAPP : Loss of Confidence in PM STILL STAND

Briefing Statement by SAPP

Kota Kinabalu (6 July 2008):
1. SAPP and its leaders and members are advised not to fall into the trap of racialist opportunists who whip up racial tensions in order to divert attention from the real issues affecting the people which may possibly set the stage for emergency rule in the country.

Stick to the real issues affecting the people

2. This is because SAPP believes that the real issues affecting the people are the rising costs of living, stagnating economy, illegal immigrants, political autonomy of Sabah and local Malaysians heading federal departments, empowerment of the people, unfair laws and policies affecting the people and an equitable share of our own oil revenues of 20%. We should not allow racial politics to bury these real issues affecting the people nor will we do anything to give the authorities an excuse to declare emergency.

3. In the last 4 days, the national media has reported the prospects of an emergency rule that will lead to the suspension of Parliament. The deliberate disclosure of the 6-day joint exercises starting July 2 between the armed forces and the police in maintaining DOMESTIC public order can be seen as a type of "psychological preparation" and "psychology warfare" that is used by governments all over the world. This has caused anxiety among the people. The denials (of impending emergency rule) from the PM carry no weight among the people because of his previous flip flops such as "no dissolution of Parliament", "no fuel price hikes", "no fuel to foreign cars", "paying salaries twice a month" etc.

Racialists stirring racial sentiments

4. The blatant stirring of racial sentiments are proven beyond any doubt when on Wednesday July 2, the MP for Kota Belud who is also the UMNO Youth National Secretary, in Parliament warned of (tumpah darah) blood shed if SAPP MPs were to proceed with the no confidence motion on the PM. This kind of inflammatory talk is totally unwarranted and an affront to parliamentary democracy. SAPP hails the decision of the Speaker, himself from the Kota Belud district, for putting a stop to the incendiary remarks of the first term MP from UMNO Youth.

5. It is also worth noting that the weekend before the UMNO Tawau demonstration, that the UMNO Youth Deputy Leader, Khairy Jamaluddin, was in Tawau and later made wild accusations against the SAPP President.

6. All BN component parties, including UMNO, have admitted that the brandishing of the keris at previous UMNO Youth conventions was a major cause of the loss of BN. These youth leaders never learn.

7. Last week, an UMNO Vice President, who is also a Chief Minister, further displayed the arrogance of power by justifying the demonstrations of UMNO in Tawau and Sepanggar. Such instigation has re-created an atmosphere of intimidation and fear among sections of the people.

8. There has also been talk of a PAS-UMNO Youth alliance that they cannot allow a Malay leader such as the PM to be "humiliated" by a non-Malay MP.

9. Although our SAPP political culture is non-racial, we do not underestimate the risks of an UMNO-PAS battle cry of "Ketuanan Melayu". SAPP President has been told personally by a senior UMNO leader that if SAPP proceeds with the motion against the PM, then it would be seen as a Chinese party versus the Malay leadership, reminding SAPP that the government media has deliberately portrayed SAPP as "Chinese", even though in fact, SAPP is a non-racial party with multi-racial members and leaders.

10. SAPP's move is based on the genuine grievances of the people and Sabah issues. Racial conflict is never a part of our agenda.

Loss of confidence still stands

11. The fundamental position of losing confidence in the PM still stands. Change is only a matter of time because the people have lost confidence on the PM. BN leaders too have lost confidence on the PM. Only the vested interests are cheering the PM like the story of Emperor's clothes. SAPP nor its President has anything personal against the PM. We have not touched any thing personal about the PM such as family, son, son-in-law and businesses etc. unlike what many UMNO leaders have thrown at the PM and family.

12. When he first became PM, the PM did ask the people to tell him the truth and to work with him, not work for him. But what is happening now at the national level show that PM has lost the confidence of the people and also control over their own BN leaders.

13. For instance, even BN MPs defied government authority by "gangsters-style removal of barricade at Parliament lobby", which was a glaring display of loss of authority on a scale unseen in Malaysia. Residents in Cheras physically removing the barricade at access to a highway, the panic in Sabah on June 24 among the public over rumours of petrol stations on strike, the fiasco of attacks and counter-attacks involving top leaders of the nation, different statutory declarations, police reports against the IGP and A-G, continuing rising costs of living affecting the people etc¡­.etc¡­are more than enough to show that the people have lost confidence in the current leadership to sort out the mess that the country is in.

14. SAPP reaffirms the 8-point Declaration of June 20, 2008 (copy attached) and is forming specialized committees to look into the formulation and implementation of laws and policies towards the complete fulfillment of the struggle contained in the 8 points.

15. For instance, the issue of Petronas formed under the Petroleum Development Act 1974 allows for a National Petroleum Advisory Council (Section 5) to include those from oil producing states.. Is there member from Sabah in this NPAC? If yes, who? If no, why not? Section 7A allows the delegation of powers to the State Authority (say, the Chief Minister) under the Act over the oil and gas industry in Sabah. Is there such delegation of powers to the State authority? As for the increase in oil royalties, this can be reviewed under Section 4 of the Act which stipulated cash payment to the relevant State. SAPP will closely pursue this and other issues of interests to the people.

16. SAPP shall continue to play our role as a people-based party striving for the people. We will not do anything to give the authorities an excuse to declare emergency rule.