The SAPP Saga: Motion to 'divert attention'

2008/06/22

The SAPP Saga: Motion to 'divert attention'

SHAH ALAM: Sabah Progressive Party's plan to move a motion of no-confidence against the prime minister is an act of desperation orchestrated by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said former Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor.

He said the move was hatched by his former mentor and PKR adviser to divert attention from cracks forming in Pakatan Rakyat.

SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee has said he had met Anwar.

Ezam said: "It is a desperate act to keep the (Pakatan) coalition together." Ezam, who has rejoined Umno, said all was not well with Pakatan Rakyat parties, which did not have a common ideology.

"There is infighting, tension and Anwar needs a temporary diversion to cover the cracks."
Ezam, who was speaking after a dialogue with graduates at Bangunan Umno Selangor, said Pas was unhappy with the PKR leadership in Selangor.

He alleged that RM200,000 was budgeted for Pakatan Rakyat's 100-day in office celebrations from state coffers, but further donations obtained from companies were deposited into PKR's account.

He said he was getting the documents to prove the allegations.

He said Selangor Pas commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan Ali, who is state Islamic Affairs, Malay Customs, Infrastructure and Public Amenities Committee chairman, was in the dark about state policies, including the free water offered to consumers.

Ezam said conflicts had surfaced between PKR and Pas in Kedah and Perak.

"All five Pakatan Rakyat states do not have a common policy and this is an indication that the coalition is fragile."

He said Anwar was resorting to dirty politics by claiming that Barisan Nasional parliamentarians were ready to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat on Sept 16.

Earlier, he addressed about 20 graduates on the "new politics" in Malaysia.

He said PKR had cast aside the Malay agenda by propagating a ketuanan rakyat or people's supremacy, doing away with the New Economic Policy and making demands for non-Malays to be appointed as university vice-chancellors.