PKR, CALLING SHOT NO DIFFERENT THAN BN

By : HJ AMDEE SIDEK

I WOULD like to respond to Datuk Karim Ghani’s statement DE 19/06/2011 referred. Datuk Karim Ghani is a newly appointed PKR strategist –strategist for national or just Sabah?

He was urging that independent political parties to either join BN or PR forthe preparation to face the coming general election in order to make an impact on the election results.

The logic is there to be agreeable but in politics rules of logic can easily brushed aside, see what BN has done.

His statement has particularly emphasized on SAPP to join Pakatan Rakyat as a full entry. He gave an example of the problem with SNAP in Sarawak during Sarawak GE.

I’m indeed very aware and take cognition very seriously of two incidents, one Batu Sapi as this has been the example cited most by PKR and DAP leaders and second, Sarawak general election.

Briefly, I was in the negotiating table with PKR leaders before nomination day for Batu Sapi. Without mentioning in details, I would ask, who actually broke the promise soon we left the table?

Only Dr Jeffrey Kitingan was supportive of SAPP idea that day? Where is Dr Jeffery now? What I meant here is, PKR leaders in Sabah couldn’t and didn’t make out right decision. Second, had the culture of not keeping their words and I’m hopeful that Datuk Karim could introduce new gentleman’s culture.

As for SNAP I was in Kuching briefed by SNAP leaders, Kuching negotiation were done haphazardly, a kind of enforcing ideas over one another, in the end the winner was the group with louder voice.

No doubt, there are still plenty of rooms for negotiation and I begin to know what negotiation is in politics with watchful ears, eyes and heart.

His invitation sounds a bit browbeating if not dictatorial, much like BN leaders to me, wonder what would it be once they are in power.

Many Sabahans understand better what SAPP is doing now that we don’t want to be subservient to leaders who think only they can do especially leaders we already know too well.

Two political schools in Sabah at the moment, one held by the old guards and other is by the young Sabahans.

The old school seems to be too dependent to KL like what they did in the past, while the young of Sabahan are thinking that we are as good as any Malaysians, and let's do it.

Kelantan before joining PR were on its own. They managed to govern the state. I see no reason why Sabah people couldn’t do it.

To be frank to Datuk Karim, whatever decision we make, it’s all based on what we got from the feedback-from the rakyat. It isn’t something fanciful, not from party leaders in SAPP nor our response based on from people who frequently dine or having breakfast in 5 star hotels.

We made a mistake in the past, but we determine not to make mistake all the time. Giving condition and coercing young politician like us may not augur well in our practice of politics.