Flurry to register BN-friendly Sabah parties

By Luke Rintod of FMT

Top Umno leaders were in town to shore up Umno Sabah and
to make sure more friendly parties are registered quickly.

KOTA KINABALU: Amidst increasing concerns over Umno Sabah’s ability to hold itself together ahead of a defining 13th general election, Home Ministry officials today met with representatives from 12 groups aspiring to register themselves as political parties.

The meeting with the 12 pro-tem presidents and secretaries-general also saw the presence of a deputy minister. This indicates that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has given the “green light” for more parties to be registered in Sabah and for this to be done “quickly”.

Some of these parties had applied for registration years ago and had been put on hold until now.

Among the aspiring political parties represented at the meeting were Usno Baru, Parti Cinta Sabah, Parti Perpaduan Rakyat, Parti Kebenaran Sabah, Parti Kebangsaan Sabah, Pakar, Parti Pembangunan Warisan Sabah, Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sabah, and Parti Bersatu Bugis Sabah.

Each of the parties was represented by its president and secretary-general.

According to those present at the closed-door meeting with with deputy minister Lee Chee Leong, they were told them that their applications would be given due consideration bearing in mind “their democratic right” and the impending general election.

He apparently said: “We will bring today’s matters to another (higher level) meeting where we will deliberate on your applications…”

Registrar of Societies (ROS) officers, who were approached, refused to reveal the names of the parties and the nature of the discussion with Lee except to say that “it is the final process (of registration)”.

‘Three new parties likely’

Meanwhile, a pro-tem secretary-general of an aspiring party told FMT that the meeting could have been ordered by Najib who is already being accused of practising doubl standard in democratisation and transparency by delaying or refusing outright to register applications of new political parties from Sabah.

“I sense that the authority may approve three new parties soon in Sabah.

“We don’t know which parties will be approved but it seems they do not want to be accused of denying us our democratic rights.

“They know we can go to court for a ‘mandamus order’ to compel the ROS to register, so why must go to court if Najib is sincere in liberalising the country?” said the man who requested anonymity.

Another secretary-general, who also asked not to be identified, claimed that he deciphered “signals” from the briefing that new parties would be registered if it is to bring advantages to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Speculations are rife that Najib is setting in motion his gameplan to contain Umno Sabah and BN’s weakening grip in the state.

BN is struggling under relentless attacks over alleged abuse of power, land grabs, unfair federal policies, victimisation and escalating cost of living.

Observers here see today’s meeting as an indication that the BN-direct membership process is finally taking shape and that Najib is putting his gameplan into action.

They were also curious about the timing of the meeting with 12 “new” parties, some of whom had given up hope of registrating their party and are known to have joined other political parties like Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), STAR and also Kita.

Lajim ignores Muhyiddin

Coincidence or otherwise, several top Umno leaders – Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and vice-presidents Hishammuddin Hussein and Shafie Apdal – were also in town today.

They have been busy meeting with local Umno warlords and gauging the “real” situation on the ground.

Rumblings of dissent among the ranks is worrying Najib.

At last night’s meeting with Muhyiddin, a key Umno member, Lajim Ukin, was missing.

Lajim’s absence has further fuelled speculations that the party’s influential chieftain in Beaufort, south of Sabah, is set to quit Umno.

Rumour has it that Lajim is set to lead a small Bumiputera party and that he had met with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Lajim also apparently has made it known that he is available for talks with the Anything But Umno (ABU) group.

Lajim’s “fame” dates back to 1994 when he allegedly triggered the downfall of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).