Jeffrey to revive dormant political party?

KOTA KINABALU: Party-less Union Borneo Front (UBF) leader, Jeffrey Kitingan, is set to take over and lead the long-dormant United Democratic Sabah People’s Power Party or better known as Setia.

Reliable sources said that Jeffrey had been in discussion with Setia president, Henry Sabagong Rumpit, for weeks ever since he left PKR on Jan 1, 2011.

“Jeffrey last week announced in Entilibon, Telupid, that he would have a new party by March. That party must be Setia. His people are in contact with Setia president and its secretary-general Ardino Diris,” a source who requested anonymity told FMT.

Another source who claimed familiarity with both groups said that Jeffrey and Sabagong had a series of meetings but that only the inner circles of both men were involved in managing a transition of leadership of the party.

Setia is now expected to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to pave the way for Jeffrey to take over possibly in early March, as he himself said in Telupid last weekend.

It was also learnt that the Setia constitution provides for a seven-day notice for an EGM to be called by the president.

“Jeffrey is confident and that is why he publicly told the 250 people at the UBF function in Entilibon last week that he would have a party by next month,” an insider said.

The maverick politician announced he would form a new political party in Entilibon over the weekend.

‘Mosquito party’

In each of UBF’s dozen roadshows, Jeffrey’s supporters have been asking the former PKR vice- president to form and lead a political party.

It was also learnt that some of Jeffrey’s men have already started laying the groundwork for the new party by approaching leaders and potential leaders from various districts ahead of their takeover of Setia.

They anticipate strong support for Setia which has long been considered a “mosquito party” and merely there to make up the numbers.

Setia or Parti Demokratik Setiasehati Kuasa Rakyat Bersatu Sabah was established in 1994 by Shuhaidin Langkap, a Muslim convert from the interior of the state.

The party was never fully active but somehow managed to put up a few candidates in previous general elections.

A little more than a year ago, Setia was sued by Shuhaidin who challenged Sabagong’s presidency. However, the High Court here declared Sabagong was the rightful president.

If all goes as Jeffrey and Sabagong have planned, Setia is poised to partner the Sarawak National Party or SNAP and form a national third force called Borneo Alliance to be jointly led by Jeffrey and Daniel Tajem, a respected Dayak elder who was once a Sarawak deputy chief minister and also a former Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Both Jeffrey and Sabagong have been tight-lipped on the plan. Sabagong, however, was seen with Jeffrey at an UBF function at Kampung Sayap in Kota Belud late last year soon after UBF was unveiled in Penampang on Dec 16, 2010.

He has not been seen since at UBF functions, but according to insiders, barring last-minute glitch over the takeover, Sabagong will play a senior role in the revitalised Setia.

SAPP KEMABONG BIDAS KENAIKAN MINYAK RON97 MEMBEBANKAN!

Oleh: Mail Mathew

KEMABONG: Pemimin Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) disini Saul Salleh membidas tindakan kerajaan menaikkan harga minyak petrol Ron97 sepuluh sen seliter bermula jam 12.01 minit tengah malam kelmarin (Isnin) menjadikan harga baru Ron97 kepada RM2.50 seliter dimana kenaikkan itu menambahkan lagi bebanan rakyat khususnya mereka yang menggunakan kenderaan dalam urusan seharian.

Katanya, kerajaan harus menimbang pelbagai aspek yang kini masih menghantui rakyat dinegara ini seperti kemurungan perniagaan berpunca daripada ketidak tentuan ekonomi yang kini masih menghantui pasaran.

“ Kita kebingungan kerana semua barang keperluan sudah naik secara mendadak beberapa bulan lalu. Yang menjadi sasaran tindakan ini adalah rakyat yang berpendapatran kecil walaupun harga getah kini stabil diparas tinggi tetapi ia tidak memberi impak baik jikalau harga keperluan sudah mengekori kenaikkannya,” tegas beliau ketika memberitahu Harian Ekspress pada Rabu.

Saul seterusnya berkata, kenaikkan tersebut memang difahami segelintir rakyat yang mudah faham keadaan itu yang antara lain berpunca daripada pergeseran pasaran dunia namun pemimpin kerajaan yang diterajui Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak seharusnya mengkotakan janjinya yang pernah dilafazkannya bahawa tidak akan berlaku lagi kenaikan harga minyak selepas kenaikan pada November 2, dan Disember 1, 2010.

“ Dengan kata kata jaminan Perdana Menteri itu kita mengandaikan beliau akan berbuat sesuatu untuk membendung masalah itu sampai kepada rakyat yang bakal membebankan itu,” tegas Saul sambil kesal dengan kenaikan tersebut.

“ Saya dihantui oleh pertanyaan rakyat/pengguna disini, ada yang menyuarakan bantahan secara bersemuka dan tidak kurang pula mereka menghantar mesej melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (sms) meminta saya menyuarakan bantahan ini,” tambahnya lagi.

Tegasnya lagi, walaupun Ron97 itu dinaikkan kononnya rakyat ada pilihan lain untuk membeli Ron95 yang agak murah sedikit, tetapi alasan itu tidak menasabah kerana pengangkutan membawa keperluan hidup rakyat di pelusuk pedalaman menggunakan Ron97 dan tentunya semua keperluan rakyat melambung tinggi kerana harga pengangkutan juga naik ekoran tindakan tersebut.

Dalam pada itu, Saul yang juga bekas Pegawai Pembangunan Masyarakat (CDO) semasa era kerajaan Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) menggesa Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Koperasi kepenggunaan (KPDNKK) agar lebih kerap memantau harga terkini pasaran barangan runcit khususnya di Tenom menjelang perayaan TBC kerana terdapat rungutan pengguna mendakwa ada segelintir peniaga mengambil kesempatan menaikkan harga pasaran dimusim perayaan ini.

“ Kita pernah dengar suatu ketika dulu, parti parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) khususnya UMNO telah menubuhkan jawatankuasa masing masing memantau kenaikkan harga barangan runcit tetapi sekarang ini tidak kedengaran pula setakat mana sudah tindakan mereka atau sekadar kata kata hiasan sahaja sebagai penyeri muka,” tambah Saul lagi.