'Upko can leave BN if unhappy'

Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: Upko President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok earned the wrath of Umno MPs who on Friday made it clear that there is no room for his party in the Barisan Nasional (BN) if he takes a confrontational stand on the proposed relocation of squatters to Kampung Maang. "This is not the way we in the BN do things, don't try to be a hero," they said in an immediate reaction to Dompok's decision to add his voice to objections to the State Government's plan to relocate the Sri Tanjung squatters to Maang, in Penampang.

Stating this in a joint statement, Friday, the MPs rebuked Dompok for taking an oppositional approach on the issue and likened this to holding the State Government to ransom.

The MPs present at the press conference were Sabah MP Backbencher Chairman Datuk Bung Moktar who is also Kinabatangan MP, Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman who is also Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodity Minister, Papar MP Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, Tenom MP Rahim Unggi and Libaran MP Datuk Juslie Ajirul.

Stating a similar stand through the handphone at the press conference were Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh and Beluran MP Datuk Ronald Kiandee. Also on hand was Pensiangan Umno divisional chief, Abdul Ghani Yassin.Anifah said being a veteran leader Dompok should know that the BN's concept is consultation and that protests and demonstrations are a culture of the opposition.

"We don't want to in the process of trying to resolve a problem be bringing up another," he said.Among the problems that might arise from Dompok's action is that it might hurt the feelings of other component parties, create suspicions as well as weaken the people's confidence in the State BN leadership, he said.

According to Bung, it was puzzling for Dompok to take such a stance since his party was represented in the State Cabinet, which agreed to the decision on the relocation.

"Don't tell me Datuk Ewon Ebin (State Industrial Development Minister) did not brief his Party President on the Government's decision," he said.

Bung said as a BN leader, Dompok, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, should know that any decision made by the BN is based on collective agreement.

"We see the Upko leaders who participated in the demonstration (together with the people in Maang) as breaching the BN's code of ethics. It projected an image like we have an opposition among us in the Government," he said. Before Dompok, two Upko elected representatives - Philip Lasimbang (Moyog Assemblyman) and Donald Mojuntin (Penampang MP) - had been vociferous on the issue.

"Leaders who oppose the decision of the BN Government should not be leaders. I urge Dompok to consider applying to take out his party from the coalition. We don't need leaders like this," he said, again stressing that BN's concept was (to resolve issues) through consultation and not confrontation.He said if all government decisions faced objections, then it would be difficult for the government machinery to move.

"We call on the BN Chairman (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) to make a decision (on this issue) to ensure this will not happen again in the future," said Bung."Why champion the rights of one single ethnic group without thinking about the others in Sabah?" he asked.

The MPs said Dompok being a member of the Federal Cabinet should know that the correct approach would have been for him to bring this up in a BN forum where everything can be thrashed out.

"We are not questioning the right of the people in Maang. They have the right to object because this is a democratic country but what we don't agree is the approach taken by the leaders," said Anifah.

By going through the right channel, he said the leaders would be able to resolve the problem of the people in Sabah and not only in Maang.

"We want to resolve the problem as a whole. We as MPs are ready to participate in a dialogue on this issue and when we offer solutions it will not only be for Maang but for other places as well," he said.

He said the MPs, too, wanted to voice out their concern on problems in their constituencies."We can discuss this thoroughly but will going to the newspapers solve the problem or will it further worsen it?" asked Anifah.

On another note, Anifah also urged the various component Sabah BN parties to stop indulging in "childish politics" by hurling accusations at each other on the issue.

"It is time to stop this kind of childish politics. We are responsible leaders and we should be moving forward," he said referring to the bickering between PBRS and PBS.

PBRS President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup was reported as blaming the two non-Muslim KDM leaders in the State Cabinet (Ewon and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan) for the predicament of the Maang folk leading to PBS through Supreme Council member, Johnny Mositun, challenging Kurup to submit a memorandum on resolving the problem to the State Government.

Following the statements, PBRS on Friday accused PBS of hypocrisy. Accusations will not resolve any problems and they should know that a decision in government is based on consensus," said Anifah.