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| Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman says he 'cannot run the state alone' without his Barisan Nasional partners. |
All these questions are racing through the minds of political observers here following the unexpected joint appearances of former chief ministers Harris Salleh, Osu Sukam, Salleh Said and Joseph Pairin Kitingan along with former state secretaries Richard Lind and Herman Luping at Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s launch of the programme.
While admitting that the presence of these luminaries was aimed at showing Najib that Musa enjoys support, observers noted that it could also mean that the state BN was “worried” that Sabah may not be the “safe haven and fixed deposit”, which the BN had always assumed it to be.
It is a known fact here that both major parties in Sabah BN – Umno and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) – are deeply divided within. Both leaders – Musa and Pairin – are said to be struggling to rein in dissenting views.
In addition, Musa’s ties with other coalition partners – Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), MCA, Upko and PBRS (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) – is also said to be less than cordial.
In his speech yesterday, Musa was forced to feebly acknowledge that he would not be able to run the state alone as chief minister.
He admitted to needing the assistance of his fellow BN partners.
Praise for colleagues
Musa, who has come under fire for several months now from Umno itself as well as from within the coalition, went out of his way to praise his colleagues in Umno and BN as well as in NGOs.
He praised the former chief ministers and deputy chief ministers present and even made special mention of Tham Nyip Shen, a former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) leader.
“I will welcome them but as I have always told the people, in discharging my duty as chief minister, I also ask for help from my Umno-BN colleagues, NGOs and former chief ministers like Harris,” he said.
Musa, who is also Finance Minister, said Sabah, being the second largest state in the country, naturally required big allocation.
He showed his appreciation for Najib’s generosity towards the state.
“We are so fortunate that we have a prime minister… who is very sensitive and poured in billions of ringgit for development in Sabah.
“How do we reciprocate? We give our undivided support to the leadership of Najib as prime minister.
“Let there be nothing to ever change this,” he said, alluding to the increasing vocal calls for a change in administration by opposition in the state .
‘They are only jealous’
Musa also touched on the ongoing controversy over the Bersih’s “Walk For Democracy” rally in Kuala Lumpur planned for July 9.
Bersih, the Coalition for Free and Fair Election, is calling for electoral reforms and has listed out eight demands for the Election Commission.
But what began as a peaceful call has since spiralled into full-blown clash of words incited by Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali who has decided to hold a counter-rally. Umno Youth has also jumped onto the bandwagon.
The police have refused to grant the groups permits, saying that any rally or assembly on July 9 would be considered illegal and that police will take “stern action including arresting” individuals flouting the order.
Meanwhile, across the peninsula the situation seems to have taken a turn for the worse with police disregarding the sancity of Parliament and recording statements from MPs on the premises.
Police have also raided Bersih’s office and arrested several elected representatives and individuals allegedly supporting or are involved in organising the Bersih walk.
Yesterday in his speech at the Juara 1Malaysia programme here, Musa slammed the Bersih rally, saying that it was “creating chaos”.
“We in Sabah want to make it clear that we totally condemn the plan by Bersih to hold the illegal rally.
“It is only aimed at creating chaos in the country.
“Apa bersih? Tapi kotor (not clean but dirty)… they are only jealous of the success achieved by Malaysia and the prime minister,” he said.
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