‘Borneo alliance’ agreed in principle

By Luke Rintod of FMT

SAPP asks  for more time to weigh its
participation in the Borneo alliance.

KOTA KINABALU: An inaugural meeting to form a United Borneo Alliance (UBA) succeeded only to have an “agreement in principle” as one of the participants, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), wanted time to deliberate on it before formalising their participation.

The meeting yesterday saw the participation of representatives from three local groupings – State Reform Party (STAR), SAPP and the yet-to-be-registered Usno Baru.

It was chaired by Ismail Gimbad, 71, a former Sorob (now Kadamaian) assemblyman who is not a member of any of the parties.

Though the Sabah Peoples’ Front (SPF) was not represented, the meeting’s main proponent, Jeffrey Kitingan, who heads the Sabah chapter of STAR, considered it a success nevertheless.

“It was a successful meeting as we have agreed in principle on the concept of co-operation and alliance to face the general election.

“SAPP deputy president Amde Sidek has to brief his party supreme council first for endorsement to be part of this alliance,” Kitingan told FMT after the two hour meeting which was surprisingly shunned by the local media.

Amde, when contacted, declined to comment.

No show by BN partners

According to Kitingan, UBA is an alliance or grouping of individually registered or established organisations that wish to come together as allies or friends in the pursuit of a common cause.

“The common objective of UBA is to defeat the current Umno/BN regime and as a group, take over the government, whether state or federal.

“Membership is open to Sabah and Sarawak-based political parties, and autonomous Peninsular-based parties, while leadership is by consensus,” he said.

Kitingan also explained that UBA’s strategies are common identity, shared manifesto, sharing of seats, common campaign theme, shared programmes and a defined team structure.

“There will be another meeting maybe in two weeks time hopefully after SAPP has decided on its participation,” he said.

Meanwhile secretary of the STAR’s Sabah chapter, Guandee Kohoi told FMT that three of BN components from Sabah namely Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Upko and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) were also invited to the meeting today but did not even respond.

Meanwhile SPF which had been linked to Umno strongman Lajim Ukin who is said to be on the verge of joining the party, failed to turn up at the meeting after earlier speculation that he would announce his next political move by Jan 31.

When contacted, SPF president Berman Angkap said he did not want to say anything until there is something to say.

“I would not want to put the party in trouble, people are SMS-ing and calling me all the time. Let us just wait,” he said.