SAPP sedia bantu calon pembangkang di Labuan, kata Yong

LABUAN: Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) bersedia membantu mana-mana calon pembangkang termasuk calon Bebas yang akan bertanding di Labuan dalam PRU-13.

Presidennya, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, berkata walaupun sehingga kini partinya belum membuat sebarang keputusan untuk bertanding di Labuan, namun apa yang pasti SAPP Labuan sudah diminta bersiap - sedia untuk membantu mana-mana calon parti pembangkang atau calon Bebas yang akan bertanding pada PRU- 13.

"Kita tidak menaruh harapan yang agak besar untuk bertanding di Labuan, tetapi objektif utama SAPP ialah mahu menumbangkan calon Umno ataupun BN di Labuan ... dan kita akan sedia memberikan sokongan kepada calon pembangkang atau Bebas yang kita rasakan calon itu boleh mengalahkan BN," katanya kepada pemberita dalam satu sidang media sempena lawatan beliau ke Labuan pada Isnin.

Hadir sama, Pengerusi SAPP Labuan, Ronny Tan; Ketua Pemuda SAPP, Edward Dagul; pemimpin aktivis Harris Ibrahim serta ahli jawatankuasa (AJK) SAPP Bahagian Labuan.

Katanya, SAPP telah mengenal pasti beberapa isu yang akan diketengahkan dalam kempen mereka menjelang PRU-13, antaranya kegagalan pemimpin BN Labuan menyuarakan kehendak rakyat tempatan mengenai jambatan yang menghubungkan Labuan dengan Menumbok di tanah besar Sabah, kenaikkan harga barang yang lagal ditangani oleh pemimpin BN di peringkat negeri dan pusat.

SAPP staying out of Labuan contest

Sohan Das

LABUAN: SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee said his party won't be fielding a candidate for the island's Parliamentary seat in the imminent general election but will support any "winnable" candidate be it from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) or an Independent.

"Though there is no formal committee with PR to strengthen co-operation in Labuan, there existed a friendly relationship between SAPP and PR. In the coming elections it as important that there is a 1 to 1 fight against BN without the opposition splitting votes.

He said the BN had failed to solve the island's problem (including traffic) nor help boost the local economy and left landmark sites like the "Hotel Labuan" in a sorry state since 1997.

"This is because the Member of Parliament acted like a distant manager of Kuala Lumpur, failing to be a voice of the people and the FT Minister having a tunnel vision for failing to understand the importance of the bridge link between here and Menumbok," said Yong.

He said the bridge could serve as a catalyst to the local economy. The convenient link would attract many from the Klias Peninsula, Kuala Penyu, Sipitang and other coast towns this would boost the retail volume of local traders. Many such mainland reqidents may see Labuan as the alternative way of flying to Kuala Lumpur."