DAP is not only aiming to become the replacement for MCA & Gerakan  but also the local Chinese/EM non-muslim Native-based parties in Sabah & Sarawak, namely PBS, UPKO, LDP, SAPP, PBRS, SUPP, SNAP, STAR..etc in the coming election.

People are pushing DAP higher than they ever had but will they able to sustain and convince the opposition parties to rally behind them, remains the crucial question. DAP must take note that in Sabah & Sarawak, the people in the region have the unfinished matter to settle first, that is the fulfillment of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, and the subsequent woes going with it.

DAP, being West Malaysia-based, has disadvantageous to champion for the East Malaysian on this long overdue critical issue which currently BN government is now feverishly trying to resolve.

Misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the true history of East Malaysian states in Malaysia is the main problem facing all the West Malaysian notably political parties from there.

PM Must Address The Local Sentiments First

http://www.asiatimes.com.my/news.php?newsid=26066

Apart from LDP, SAPP is another political party openly opposing the adoption of coal-fired power plant in Sabah.

The difference between the two parties over the power issue is that LDP is in the government and SAPP is an independent opposition party now on its own.

PM had come and left with doubts whether Federal government is sincere in resolving the pressing problems in Sabah.

The rejection of coal-fired power plant project in any part of Sabah is purely a clear demonstration of high awareness of the Sabahan on environmental issues, and not so much of political.

The proposal to build a coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah, had never been a popular idea since its infamous damages caused to the residents and its surroundings have been unfavourably known all over.

For a state focusing on eco-tourism, the introduction of the coal-fired power plant means a threat to the industry and the state future income. General consensus is that a pristine environment is the key ingredient in the continuation of eco-tourism. There have been several verbal guarantees undertaking by various VIPs on the security and safety of the coal-fired power plant. How good are these guarantees?

The regional sentiment is high in this part of the world due largely caused by the unbalanced status of developments in the past 46 years. PM has a lot to catch up especially on how to eliminate the unjust feelings now felt generally in Sabah.

The vocal appeals over various local issues from LDP via its women and youth wings shows that people are more vocal and getting more proactively involved in the administration of the public affairs.

The sentiments against the central government, especially in the urban area, are high because promised projects are not forthcoming to ease the hardship of the people, or somewhat too slow to act, and like the QEH affairs, there is simply no significant progress on the improvement of hospital services ever since the main tower block was declared unsafe in November, 2008.

The Dilemma Of MCA Sabah, Where Do We Go From Here?

The perversity of continue appointing Raymond Tan Shu Kiat as Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) is just not only inappropriate but also an act of blatant insult to the people of Sabah.

Raymond Tan should voluntarily give up the Minister of Works and DCM since the pull out of SAPP from BN. However, it takes two to tango, both CM & Raymond should not ignore the feeling of the people, especially the matter has now escalated to a serious issue of Public Interests.

Take for example; a vacancy of Deputy Finance Minister left by the resignation of SAPP's YB is deliberately left vacant until today. Furthermore, another Deputy Works Minister post also has to be reappointed due to the corruption ridden UMNO YB from Kota Belud.

People has been wondering what's in the mind of CM? What's the poser?

Maybe, an answer will surface after the UMNO Supreme Council Meeting on or after 24-May-2009?

The CM of Sabah is also the Finance Minister.

MCA Sabah has been doing the most on helping the local people on the federal affairs such as health, education, transportation, and security over the years ever since 1992, the same year as the entry of UMNO Sabah; regrettably, it was never given the due respects it deserves in reciprocal.

Although MCA is the second dominant coalition component party in National BN, only next to UMNO, it’s not given the same opportunity to develop itself right from the start in Sabah, citing for fear of losing the supports of local people whom are still very much anti-semenanjung and regionalist.

The BN Sabah, led by UMNO, seems over the years been discriminative against MCA that it has been “asked” to take a back seat in the running of the state by the so-called “BN’s Spirit”.

The local-based parties were allowed and encouraged to grow their strength naturally; unfortunately, MCA was left to grow under-nourished without the needed resources it should have, either from MCA Central or BN Sabah. The situation of MCA Sabah has indeed been described as “demoralizing”, like it or not.

MCA Sabah should have been given at least one parliamentary seat to contest in the last general election but not so, largely due to the aggressiveness of SAPP wanting even more seats which had stirred up quite a bit of havoc prior to the 308 general election day. Nevertheless, MCA Sabah should now be given the chance now that SAPP is out of the coalition. Not only that, our only State YB should be promoted as the DCM as well as a full minister.

It’s high time that the MCA HQ extending its available resources to help MCA Sabah to secure the seat allocation as well as to ensure its eventual capture.

It’s now or never.