Joining NGO, instead politics?

By Haji Amde Sidik

I find it awkward to read statement made by Jaffar Ismail (Daily Express, 01/02/2013) former SAPP Vice President and CLC Chairman for N23 Bongawan who said, he resigned from SAPP and joined Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS) because SAPP has not yet making a move to join Pakatan Rakyat (PR)

Jaffar took political refuge in SAPP for nearly four years opting not to say what he supposed to have said, as a leader for his constituency, isn’t his attitude posed a big question itself?

I can only say for all this while Jaffar isn’t struggling for people and the State, but more of self-interest and to be Yang Berhormat at cost.

He knew fairly well how the party -SAPP makes decision and where its party's stand all along.

It isn’t an issue of arrogant of not wanting to be in Pakatan, Jaffar himself agreed there is no way for Sabah to gain its autonomy when all the time Sabah politicians are being coerced and succumbed to agree to the dictates of KL political leaders.

Sabah’s autonomy has never been given as per agreement for the past fifty years.

The clearest example today, look at our Sabah’s political parties that are in BN, how far can they do? I personally think it could be similar with Pakatan Rakyat in the future, though may not be exactly the same as BN, but leaders are mostly UMNO’s ‘graduates’ and are likely to incline to think like those in the past. Thus being outside PR, we wouldn’t bind by dictation that doesn’t mean we are not friendly after all our objective is first to topple UMNO.

SAPP has learnt the trade and it does not want once again to fall into the trap, which in the end rerouted to the same system, this is what SAPP is trying to avoid.

Jaffar is one of those who advocated that Sabah cannot rely on Malaya's political parties and after four years he came out with dissatisfaction, to me he is a bit of a slow learner. I would have thought if he has nothing to say might as well not to say anything.

SAPP is to struggle for people and State first before anything else.

On leadership looks now how many ‘recycles’ are surfacing like mushrooms in rainy season, I’ve nothing against them personally but we should guide voters to think.

By the way, I wish Jaffar good luck, now with an NGO instead.

I chaired both the CLC Bongawan and the Southern Zone meeting immediately after Jaffar left nobody was perturbed by his departure ... some in fact expected of him to leave. And we have replacement with little difficulty; some echoed that it’s better for him to leave now rather than on nomination day.

Hj Amde Sidik is Deputy President of Sabah Progressive Party-SAPP