Sapp MPs to back Pakatan's motion against PM
Malaysiakini.com
Jul 11, 2008

Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) parliamentarians Eric Enchin Majimbun and Chua Soon Bui have pledged their vote for an opposition motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

MCPX
sapp sabah pc 180608 02In a short joint statement today, the duo said that are finally able to carry out their party's intention as announced by Sapp president Yong Teck Lee on June 18.

"This expression of support reiterates Sapp's loss of confidence in the prime minister and the need for urgent government measures to address issues on Sabah rights and current concerns (inflation) plaguing the state," read the statement issued late this evening.

sapp mps and state assembly reps sabah 160608Last month, Sapp rebelled against BN when its supreme council endorsed party president Yong Teck Lee's call for a no-confidence vote against Abdullah.

Majimbun (Sepanggar) and Chua (Tawau) have however not filed for any motions against the PM since Dewan Rakyat resumed late last month.

Instead, opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) filed for an urgent motion of no-confidence against Abdullah on Thursday.

‘Delay due to bloodshed threats'

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia will announce whether he'll allow the motion to be debated after question time on Monday.

Majimbun and Chua's statement reiterated Yong's stand that Sapp's intention to move the no-confidence motion was delayed due to "inflammatory and threatening statements" from some government leaders.

sapp sabah pc 110708"The statements included veiled threats of bloodshed uttered in Parliament by Kota Belud MP (Abdul Rahman Dahlan)," read the statement.

The duo were concerned that if non-Malay parliamentarians from Sapp embarrass a Malay prime minister it would become an convenient "excuse for those who uttered racists threats".

"Now that a motion of no-confidence is being proposed by a Malay MP (Wan Azizah), the race factor is eased," added the statement.

But the motion may not see the light of day as the House speaker has the power to reject it on the ground that it is not urgent.

Moveover, only a one-hour debate will be set aside for such motions and no vote would be taken.

Sapp, one of the smallest party in Barisan Nasional, is the first component party to openly revolt against Abdullah's leadership. Abdullah has pledged to step down from his post in June 2010. 

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