More anti-Anifah demos in Sabah

Raymond Tombung

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's brother Anifah, who is also Foreign Minister, is battling dissent within his Kimanis division.

KOTA KINABALU: The Leadership Transformation Movement which is seeking to replace Anifah Aman as Kimanis MP in the next general election is not backing down on its threat to hold more demonstrations to pressure Umno to accede to its demand.

Anifah is Foreign Minister and the brother of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

The movement surfaced on Jan 31 after three members allegedly from Anifah’s own Umno division organised demonstrations in three villagers involving hundreds of people.

The first demonstration was in Dewan Kampung Pimping on Jan 21, 2012, the second in Dewan Lama Pekan Bongawan on the following day, and the third for two days (Jan 23 and 24) in Dindong, Kampung Bambangan, Membakut.

Since then the movement has gone on to hold more rallies in other villages, such as in Kampung Madang Pimping where the villagers complained that their community hall was still without electricity despite being built 10 years ago.

They said Anifah’s promises, including RM100,000 allocation for a co-operative development scheme, are still unfulfilled.

On Feb 3, a rally covering three more villages – Kampung Tamalang, Kampung Paung Maragang and Kampung Penopok – and attended by 200 Kadazandusun was organised by Antius Gonsim, who claimed that Anifah had failed to fulfil his election promises.

“Anifah has represented us for three terms already, but he is yet to fulfil his promises to clean up our river, to upgrade roads and to improve drainage in the constituency.

“In addition, many people are still waiting for their houses promised under the PPRT (housing scheme for the hardcore poor) but were never built.

“We have forwarded our reminders and complaints to him (Anifah) since 2009 but until now he failed to respond.”

“What is more disappointing is that many who had qualified for the assistance through applications processed by the subdistrict office here had their approvals withdrawn for unknown reasons,” Antius said.

More rallies planned

According to the movement’s three leaders – Awang Kamis Awang Ahmad (Kimanis Umno Youth wing member), Awang Mohd Rizam and Asno Amat Muda – to date more than 5,000 people have participated in the many rallies and many more are being planned in the coming weeks.

Rizam said that Anifah has been the MP for Kimanis for too many terms.

“He has represented Kimanis for four terms now,” he said. “Before he became the MP for Kimanis in 2004, he was the MP for Beaufort, which then included Kimanis, in 1999.”

Following the first three demonstrations, Anifah supporters had retaliated calling for Anifah to be retained and for him to defend his Kimanis seat.

They also claimed Anifah was a good leader with “a big heart” who had brought a lot of development to the people of Kimanis, the majority of whom are Bruneinians (about 58 percent).

The second largest community in Kimanis is the Kadazandusuns who make up 38 percent of the voters, while the rest are Chinese and others.