SAPP Just A Nuisance, Says Abdullah

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it was apt that the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) left the Barisan Nasional (BN) as it was a only a nuisance to the coalition.
"They are only a problem in the party and a nuisance. Let them go, it's okay," he said when met at a breaking of the fast function with Cabinet ministers, menteris besar, chief ministers and deputy ministers at the home of Deputy Prime Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here Wednesday night.
He said this when asked to comment about the decision by the SAPP to pull out of the BN at its Supreme Council meeting in Kota Kinabalu Wednesday.
At a press conference following the meeting, SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee announced that the party no longer wanted to be in the BN and chose to be an independent party.
The decision, however, was not well received by two of its leaders, SAPP deputy president and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah, the state assemblyman for Elopura.
On the same issue, Najib said the decision by the SAPP was no surprise as it had been expected.
SAPP, he said, had actually hoped to be expelled from the BN but now had "jumped the gun".
"This development will not affect the BN in any way and we won't be doing a post-mortem on it," he said.

We Will Continue To Serve The People Even From The Opposition Bench - SAPP MPs

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The two Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) members of parliament said Wednesday they will continue to speak up on behalf of the Sabah people even though the party is no longer in Barisan Nasional (BN).
Tawau MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui said her decision to support SAPP's decision to leave the BN today was based on the response she received from her constituency.
"They begged me for a change; it is the voice of the people.
"So we will continue to play our duties and listen to their needs," she told reporters after attending the party's supreme council meeting Wednesday.
On the possibility that she might be urged to resign, Dr Chua said, "I'm an elected representative and I will serve my term."
Meanwhile, Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun said there had to be changes for the party and the people.
"We have been in the BN but whenever we speak up, it was as if they didn't hear us," he said when asked whether SAPP could play a better role had it remained in the coalition.
On whether he had received any offer to join the Pakatan Rakyat, Majimbun said even if he had, he would not take it because it had nothing to do with the real reason for the party's pull-out from BN.

tunku : don't make it a habit to lose a coalition. i wonder if another party leaves bn , will pak lah still say it's ok, they were only a nuisance to the coalition.sapp has not joined opposition till now because their heart is still with bn but i won't be surprised to see them joining opposition if bn chairman make such remarks.it's the arrogance again.