Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Is willing-to-die Shafie Afdal willing to do the right thing in Batu Sapi?

Sabahkini says former CM owes it to the people of Sabah to pull Warisan out of by-election

It's in the red zone area


KL, 3 Nov: In the hope of containing the contagion in Sabah after September's state elections, several political parties have agreed not to contest the Batu Sapi  by-election (Dec 6). Former Umno president Najib Razak even went on to suggest that the seat, which was left vacant after the death of Datuk VK Liew, be returned to the incumbent party, ie Warisan. 

Sabahkini, arguably the state's most vocal news portal, begs to differ. Its editorial  yesterday said if any party should pull out of Batu Sapi by-election, it should be Warisan.

The portal blames willing-to-die Shafie Afdal, the Warisan chief, for Sabahan's current predicament. It said Shafie should now be willing to let go of Batu Sapi without contesting it. Batu Sapi is best given to the ruling coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah,, which will be in a better position to manage the Covid-19 and the welfare of the people in the constituent, according to the editorial.


On July 29,  instead of resigning as Chief Minister after obviously losing the majority support of the state's assemblymen, Shafie opted to dissolve the assembly and forced a snap election on the whole of Sabah. On Sept 26, amid fears of a major spike in Covid-19 cases as a result of the intense campaigning, Sabahans voted out Shafie's Warisan from the government. Since then, Sabah has averaged 500-600 new coronavirus cases, making it the worst hit in the whole of Malaysia.
 

1 comment:

  1. xnakdedak2:23 pm

    Latuk,

    I guess the Larut-Pagoh-Gombak coup of Sabah was timed at the worst possible moment.

    Funny how they completely walked away from the fire they created.

    Abah Kena Rotan has only been able to muster enough energy to do one photo-op with supplies.

    I bet the Sabahans are regretting it now.

    Anyway at least Tok Mat is saner than his soon-to-be kicked out Parti Bunga counterparts:

    "KOTA KINABALU, Nov 3 ― Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) appreciates the call by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan for political parties to give way to Warisan to retain the the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat unopposed.

    Its secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua said the suggestion clearly showed that Mohamad was concerned over the Covid-19 situation in the state.

    He said it is not wrong for all parties to work together in addressing Covid-19 in the state as what is important now is to look after the welfare of the people affected by the pandemic.

    “It is not wrong for all of us including independent candidates to show solidarity in the Batu Sapi by-election so that we can focus on the people’s welfare and the state’s economy.

    “We just have to wait for another two years for the next general election to be held and for now it is better for us to work together for the sake of the people in Sabah,” he said via WhatsApp today.

    The Batu Sapi seat in Sabah fell vacant following the death of its Member of Parliament, Datuk Liew Vui Keong of Parti Warisan Sabah, on October 2."

    After Abah Kena Rotan's inevitable removal, it seems Tok Mat might be a saner choice.

    Plus we'd say goodbye to the Sandakan Media Icon.

    Shame....

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