Yong gets 'rousing' welcome at kampungs

By Luke Rintod of FMT

SANDAKAN: Muslims kampungs in both Sekong and Karamunting, the two state constituencies that make up the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat here gave Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) candidate Yong Teck Lee and his entourage a grand welcome.
Yong received rousing welcome from the Suluks, Ubians, Bajaus and Bugis groups - old and young - in Kg Karamunting, Kg Lupak Meluas, and Bokara, to name a few.

His theme of 'autonomy for Sabah" and "Sabah for Sabahans" alongwith the Barisan Nasional government's failure to bring development to the two areas has resonated with the kampung folk here.

Adding to the local opposition party's fanfare was the arrival of two influential Muslim leaders into SAPP's growing multiracial fold.

Musa launches anti-Yong tirade in lieu of debate

By Queville To

SANDAKAN: Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has rejected a challenge by SAPP president Yong Teck Lee to a debate about Sabah autonomy , saying the latter did nothing about the issue when he was chief minister.
“There is no need to engage in a debate,” he said as he began a long and bitter attack against Yong, who is a candidate in the Batu Sapi by-election.
“Yong was a chief minister at one time. During his tenure, he spent most of his time glorifying himself.  Not at any one time did he speak on Sabah’s autonomy or Sabah rights.

"Yong was only good at shouting Sabah Boleh and SAPP Boleh. And he flooded the state with his self-righteous billboards. What benefit this has brought to the people, I don’t know.

"But he had his window of opportunity when he was at the helm of the government. However, he failed miserably as he was busy fighting for his own selfish gains.

Strong start for Yong in Batu Sapi polls campaign

By Luke Rintod of FMT
SANDAKAN: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) appeared to be ahead of PKR in the popularity stakes as official campaigning for the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election began.
Its received a boost yesterday when former Pasok president, Cleftus Mojingol, and a nephew of the late Mustapha Harun, the founder of Usno, joined the state opposition party at a function in Kampung Karamunting here onTuesday evening.
On hand to receive  Cleftus and Razak Abdul Salam was SAPP president, Yong Teck Lee, who is the candidate for the Batu Sapi by-election.
Cleftus, without a party for sometime after helming Pasok for for several years, told FMT he joined SAPP because of the party's resolute stand to regain autonomy for Sabah.
"Tonight I officially joined SAPP to be with the leaders and its members in realising a struggle very close to my heart for so long ever since I was in Pasok," he said.
Mustapha's nephew, Razak also thanked SAPP for accepting his application to join the party.
Both men were cheered by a mostly-Muslim crowd when their names were announced as new members of SAPP.

Ansari on the stump minus PKR heavyweights

By Luke Rintod of FMT
SANDAKAN: Sabah PKR's “numero uno” leader Jeffrey Kittingan has just taken two months leave from the party and his deputy Christina Liew is no where to be seen!
Sources said Jeffrey has decided to stay away from the embarrassing free-for-all PKR campaign in the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election and Liew's whereabouts "is unknown".
Meanwhile, “embarrassing” is a mild word given the recent behaviour by Batu Sapi leaders.

PKR Batu Sapi newly-elected chief, Hassnar Ebrahim, is said to have made disparaging remarks against other PKR leaders, several times, including at state liaison meetings.

And the name calling against his own comrades has come back to haunt the Ansari Ibrahim's by-election campaign.

Many confirmed that Hassnar has been telling everybody that there are three PKR leaders whom he did not want campaigning in Sandakan.

The leaders he named are Awang Tangah Awang Amin, Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari, and Jalumin Bayogo.

He had also reportedly said that Jeffrey was also not welcome.