Pairin Wants Seat Allocation Discussed In Roundtable

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan wants the seat allocation issue among state Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to be discussed in a roundtable and not openly to ensure that the matter is solved in the spirit of BN.

Pairin, who is Deputy Chief Minister, said the seat allocation agreed upon by all state BN component parties in the last election should be made the basis for any discussion on the matter.

“Only the parliamentary and state seats held by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) (which left the BN in September 2008) should be discussed among the component parties,” he told reporters after opening the state-level World Water Day Conference, here yesterday.

SAPP Advises UPKO To Quit BN

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) advised United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organisation (UPKO) to quit Barisan Nasional (BN).

SAPP vice president Japiril Suhaimin said UPKO should take the drastic action because the ruling coalition would not set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe the huge number of illegal immigrants in Sabah.

PKO s disappointment with the slow progress in the setting up of the RCI is similar to having no confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. SAPP quit BN in September 2008 after having no confidence in the then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. So, I advise UPKO to follow our footstep,?he said in a statement yesterday.

Ex-Leader Claims PKR Crippled In Keningau

A former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leader claimed that the Malaya-based party here is already crippled as more than 2,000 members have since quit it for the State Reform Party (STAR).

“I myself as being the elected deputy head of PKR for Keningau division, has quit together with the majority of the elected divisional committee members. Among those who have also quit were the division vice head, Daniel Palangi and its information chief, Salim Nair,” Melvin Jaikul said.

Others in the divisional line-up who have also quit are Fred Aliun, Dominic Liew, Adrian Mikin and Alex Amik to mention a few, Melvin claimed in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile in the divisional youth, all but one, had also left PKR for STAR. Likewise in the women wing, many have left too, joining more than 2,000 PKR members in STAR which is led by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

“There will be more who will leave PKR both in Keningau and in other divisions too. In the very near future there will be an exodus from PKR Putatan to join STAR,” he said.

PBS Has Right To Ask For SAPP Held Seats – Mositun

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) also has the right to ask for the quota previously allocated to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), said its information chief, Datuk Johnny Mositun.

“Of course PBS has the right to request for the vacant BN seats because we too are a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party,” he said, commenting on the recent revelation by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that it had submitted a list of some 20 candidates to be fielded in 10 constituencies, including all of that previously held by SAPP.

Mositun when contacted yesterday, said “while LDP also has the right to make the request especially for the constituency formerly represented by a Chinese component party, it does not mean the party should get all the vacant seats available.”

Dakwaan Sijil Halal Sukar Diperolehi Tidak Benar: Daud

Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri (Hal Ehwal Islam), Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman menafikan dakwaan tentang kesukaran dan kos tinggi untuk memohon Sijil Halal daripada Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM).

Beliau berkata, standard tertentu seperti pengubahsuaian premis dengan memiliki lantai dan dapur yang bersih bagi mengekalkan aspek kebersihan ditetapkan oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan dan Jabatan Kesihatan.

“Bukan JAKIM dan Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak (JAIS) yang menetapkan peraturan agar pengubahsuaian (dilakukan) di bahagian dapur atau lantai sesebuah premis.

“Tetapi ia adalah peraturan atau undang-undang yang telah ditetapkan oleh pihak berkuasa yang berkenaan untuk premis yang beroperasi,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan lawatan ke tapak pembinaan Kompleks Islam Sarawak Sibu di Jalan Awang Ramli Amit di sini, semalam.

SPDP 5 Bertegas Letak Calon Di Mas Gading

Kumpulan Berlima (SPDP 5) akan meletakkan calon di kerusi Parlimen Mas Gading untuk bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13) akan datang.

Jurucakapnya, Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie memberitahu, mereka berhak meletakkan calon di kerusi itu memandangkan mereka tidak lagi berada dalam Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP), tetapi terpulang kepada pucuk pimpinan BN untuk menerima atau sebaliknya.

“Semua orang termasuk SPDP boleh meletakkan calon di mana-mana kerusi tetapi selaku calon BN, kita tahu hanya pucuk kepimpinan BN yang boleh memutuskan siapa akan bertanding berdasarkan penilaian mereka terhadap calon mampu menang, sekali gus apa yang terbaik untuk BN.

“SPDP mempunyai hak untuk memilih calon mereka sendiri dan seperti itu juga, kita turut mempunyai hak untuk meletakkan calon… kita biarkan pucuk pimpinan BN untuk menentukan dan keputusan itu perlu diterima oleh semua orang,” katanya menerusi khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS), semalam.