DAP distances from SAPP tactic

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP suspects the planting of its flag in front of the Bank Simpanan Nasional buiding, here, Monday, was done by certain quarters to deliberately tarnish the party's image.

Nevertheless, it advised members and supporters not to erect or put up the party's flag in public places without permission from City Hall, apparently referring to flags of fellow opposition Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) currently being erected all over the city, including road dividers.

"We believe it was purposely planted by other peo- ple to tarnish the image of the party," said Sabah DAP Vice Chairman Edward Ewol Mujie, adding that he took it down soon as he was alerted.

Mujie said DAP members should take precaution against others who may want to sabotage the party by quietly putting up DAP flags in public places.

"If such flags are seen in public places, DAP members should immediately take them down and report the case with photographs for an investigation to be carried out," he said.

Edward said planting the party's flag in public places, except during an election, is not the culture and practice of DAP.

"We are not a party that simply ignores and go against the law by putting up party flags in public pleces," he said. "Normally, the party's flag is put up where a specific party function and event is held...not meant to show off as such, but just to show the location.

"There are laws forbidding political party flags from being put up indiscriminately without approval or permit from the authorities in public places, especially on road signboards, roundabouts, walkways, trees and road sides," he said.

He said KK MP Hiew King Cheu has given specific instruction not to put up DAP flags unless there is a party or Pakatan Rakyat function and this can only be done during elections.

"We don't want to be a party that abuses the law or wants to challenge the law. We should have high respect for the laws here," said Mujie.

Meanwhile, Daily Express received calls commenting on the haphazard manner in which the SAPP flags were placed in public areas and inquired why the authorities appeared helpless to do anything about it.

He said the flags have been erected along the road at Likas Bay heading towards Yayasan Sabah, Jalan Tuaran Lama, Jalan Bornion, Luyang and Sembulan, among others. He believed the flags were erected without permission from City Hall.

"They are blocking the motorists' view in some places," he said.

Some questioned the party's motive to have their flags in many parts of the city, especially during the Merdeka month and Malaysia Day.

SAPP had said earlier that it decided to erect its flag in public places to commemorate the third year of its pullout from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Daily Express

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

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