PAKATAN CAN WREST POWER IN SABAH

KOTA KINABALU: A shift in political sentiment will allow the opposition to wrestle power from Barisan Nasional (BN) government in Sabah in the coming general election, according to Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS).

Its secretary general, Narawi Ahmad, said Sabah, like the rest of Malaysia, is not spared from what he called 'revolution phenomenon' sweeping across developing countries in the world.

He said the people in Sabah were increasingly becoming aware of their rights and were demanding for a better government.

More importantly, he said political changes were not only taking place among the people but also among the state leaders.

“Based on the sentiment and growing disappointment among the people against the current government, I fully believe and confident that Pakatan Rakyat would be able to capture Sabah this time around,” he said when speaking during a political convention organized by PAS here yesterday.

PPPS is a non-governmental organization led by Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin who defected from Umno.

PPPS is affiliated the national opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat.

Citing a statistic released by independent polling agency Merdeka Centre, Narawi said the popularity of State BN chairman and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman has dipped from 60 per cent in Nov 2009 to 45 per cent in Sept last year.

Fifty five per cent of the population also disagree with the way the state leadership manages the State’s economy, he added.

“Some may argue that BN still commands a very strong overall support as it still has the support of the majority Muslim population in Sabah, but the survey conducted by Merdeka Centre in Sept last year also found that 50 per cent of the Muslims rejected Musa’s leadership, a significant decrease from 70 per cent in Nov 2009.

“PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) managed to defeat Berjaya after two, the only two leaders namely the late Tan Sri Mark Koding and Pairin, left Berjaya to form PBS. There was no Internet back then and the participation of youth in politics is not like today.

“PBS could do it despite having so many disadvantages because the people wanted  change. The same is happening now, and Pakatan taking over from BN is eminent,” he said.

Also present at the political convention were PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sabah chairman Jimmy Wong, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) state chairman Ahmad Thamrin Jaini and State PAS leaders.

PAS Sabah also adopted a seven-point resolution at the event, pledging among others to improve the education services, ensure Sabah’s natural resources are effectively developed to improve the economy of its people and implement Borneonisation. (BP)