PBS lacks ‘will’ to change

By Calvin Kabaron

TAMBUNAN : Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which is said to be Umno’s strongest ally in Sabah, is allegedly losing members to either Umno, PKR or DAP.

Party insiders said memberships in some divisions, especially in constituencies represented by Umno, has dwindled so much that they are unable to reflect a ‘good blend’ of societies within the area.

They described the condition as reflective of a Malay adage: “Hidup segan, mati pun tak mahu”.

Musa takes to wooing non-politicos

By Calvin Kabaron 

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional seems to be taking a leaf from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s direct dealings with civil society groups and is actively engaging, in some instances for the first time, religious bodies, academics, artistes and the latest, consumer bodies.

Such is the state’s political “dilemma”. The ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry testimonies and the contentious Bible-issue have dented BN’s “fixed deposits” and the “leakage” is worrying the powers-that-be here.

In an unexpected show of concern, Chief Minister Musa Aman recently hosted a local Catholic delegation led by the outgoing Archbishop John Lee who heaped praises on Musa for his openness and help to the church.

Tunggu enam bulan lagi selesai masalah air

Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan

By Calvin Kabaron 

KOTA BELUD : Ahli Parlimen Kota Belud, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan yang lantang menyokong segala dasar Umno mendapat kejutan apabila para pelajar dan ibu bapa yang sedang mendengar ucapannya bertepuk tangan pada masa yang tidak diduga.

Para pelajar dan ibu bapa bertepuk tangan ketika anggota parlimen Umno itu menyindir pihak pembangkang pada ucapannya sempena penyampaian bantuan tunai RM100 kepada para pelajar SMK Pekan Kota Belud II di sini semalam.

“Di pihak sebelah sana, mereka ini hanya pandai bercakap “undilah saya sebab BN (Barisan Nasional) menindas rakyat”..” katanya disambut tepukan oleh hadirin yang sepatutnya “mengeboo” pembangkang yang cuba diperkecil-kecil oleh Abdul Rahman.

RCI revelations could drown Musa, Umno

By Calvin Kabaron 

The disclosures in the current RCI hearing in Sabah
may lead to more damaging testimonies implicating
the state's top leadership.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, who is also the state’s Umno chief, could be in for some uncomfortable moments soon as those involved in handing out Malaysian documents to illegal immigrants in Sabah continue to expose the high and mighty.

So far, one ex-chief minister, Osu Sukam has been implicated by the testimony of a former director of Sabah’s National Registration Department (NRD) at the ongoing investigation by Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants problems in Sabah here.

Ramli Kamaruddin, in his testimony said Osu was present with then federal deputy home minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob at a hotel here in 1994 when he was given instruction “to issue NRD receipts using the name and identity card numbers of voters already in the electoral roll, with the sole purpose of allowing them to vote to help ensure that a state government endorsed by the federal government would win” in Sabah.

Bumburing’s frontman, PKR leader in punch-up

By Calvin Kabaron 

Despite Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s assurance
that all is well in Sabah PKR, skirmishes between
original and 'new' party members indicate otherwise.

KOTA KINABALU: All is not good within Sabah PKR, if a recent punch-up in Kota Belud is any indication.

A heated argument over who is the “more rightful” PKR candidate in Sabah led to punches between two local leaders from Kota Belud.

The punch-up was between the leaders of “PKR ori (originals)” and PKR photocopy (Wilfred Bumburing’s Angkatan Perubahan sabah-APS- members)

Mail Balinu, who is with APS, was allegedly flattened with one blow by one Minsin Sompong, from the other faction.

SAPP-Pakatan: It just ain’t working out

By Calvin Kabaron

SAPP president Yong Teck Lee is adamant that
the party must stick to its principle that
a Sabah-based party must take the
majority of the state seats.

KOTA KINABALU: Mistrust and uncertainty within Sabah’s opposition politics could well indeed translate into a free-for-all fight at the coming general election.

Yesterday, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) supreme council met in Likas near here and snippets leaked out indicated that things may not be going too well with its alliance with PKR-led Pakatan Rakyat.

Insider information noted that party president Yong Teck Lee implied that if things don’t work out as it should, then SAPP could well be on a collision course with its newly-found allies PKR and DAP in many seats.

Sabah Umno could lose ‘birthplace’

By Calvin Kabaron

Iranun, which is considered as Umno’s first ‘child’
in Sabah, may see a tough fight from opposition STAR.

KOTA BELUD: Opposition State Reform Party (STAR) has penetrated Umno’s bastion in the state – the Iranun and Bajau kampungs – which incidentally is the birthplace of Sabah Umno.

STAR’s Sabah chairman, Jeffrey Kitingan, was elated to see about 150 senior citizens and the young who thronged to his ice-breaking “ceramah” at two kampungs here recently.

One session was held in Tempasuk Tamau, an Iranun kampung, not very far from Umno’s Pandikar Amin Mulia’s home. The ceramah was hosted by a local ustaz who recently joined STAR.

Pairin: Jeffrey doesn’t love me anymore

It is now an open secret that the KadazanDusuns
in Keningau and even Tambunan are clamouring
for change, but Joseph Pairin Kitingan
refuses to acknowledge the shift

By Calvin Kabaron

PENAMPANG: Embattled Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Joseph Pairin Kitingan has increased his attacks on his brother Jeffrey. He sees Jeffrey as the man who will send him into retirement.

Speaking to reporters at the end of recently-concluded PBS congress here, Pairin accused the younger Kitingan of not loving him and of breaking the unity within the KadazanDusunMurut communities.

He also said Jeffrey was uncooperative and hurled half a dozen more accusations against his younger brother.

PBS preparing for Pairin’s last stand

By Calvin Kabaron

If Pairin gives up public service, the Kadazandusuns could
pick someone with a family connection to take over.

PENAMPANG: There’s a certain nervousness in the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) ranks in the run-up to next week’s three-day party congress. It could well be the final one for its founder, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, at least as president.

With others in the party hierarchy expected to either shore up their positions or jockey for them, the congress is also expected to be closely monitored by many in the state hoping for a hint of what course the party will take.

Drafts of Pairin’s policy speech are being vetted by the top leadership, said sources who revealed that it focuses on pressing issues facing Sabah, such as the illegal immigrants, preparations for the general election and eventual change of leadership.

Jeffrey’s STAR blows hot and cold

By Calvin Kabaron

Leaders of local opposition, STAR, who recently
returned from the party's recent SWOT analysis
meeting are pessimistic about the party's direction.

KOTA KINABALU: Has the State Reform Party (STAR) peaked too soon in Sabah?

The party is seeing a slowdown in membership applications, it has failed to attract high profile former Barisan Nasional leaders who have quit the ruling coalition and its campaign is disjointed.

Tongues are wagging and party leader, maverick local politician Jeffrey Kitingan, is taking most of the flak. He is being blamed for being indecisive in the face manifold problems confronting the local opposition party that was formed 10 months ago.

Hints of despair in the party are surfacing and Kitingan who is no stranger to controversy may fall into a political abyss yet again by “refusing to listen to good and alert colleagues”, according to people with knowledge of the situation in the party.

By Calvin Kabaron

Discrimination against Sabah by the federal government
in order to develop Malaya is a tragedy and worthy of
national attention, says a lawyer.

KOTA BELUD: Peter Marajin, the man under fire from irate Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan for criticising him, stands by his claim that the MP is all talk and no action.

Speaking a day after Rahman hit out at him for negatively assessing his performance, Marajin reiterated that the MP had not done much in his constituency.

“He does not care about the padi fields in Mukim Kelawat but he keeps on telling people the district is Sabah’s “rice bowl” or “jelapang padi”.

“He didn’t even answer my contention that there are hundreds of acres of padi fields in Kelawat which are neglected as they are dependent on rain. His Umno-led Barisan Nasional has not provided proper irrigation for the area.

MP Kota Belud diminta lawat kawasan

By Calvin Kabaron

Sejak kebelakangan ini Rahman Dahlan
lebih gemar bercakap isu ekonomi
negara, pentadbiran persekutuan dan
kedaulatan bangsa lain sedangkan
kawasannya terbiar.

KOTA BELUD: Ahli Parlimen Kota Belud Dato’ Abdul Rahman Dahlan digesa membuat lawatan ke kawasan parlimennya daripada ‘berkokok’ dan ‘menyalak’ mempertahankan pelbagai isu yang menimpa partinya, Umno.

“Sejak kebelakangan ini Rahman lebih gemar bercakap isu ekonomi negara, pentadbiran persekutuan dan kedaulatan bangsa lain sedangkan kawasannya terbiar,” kata Anggota Majlis Tertinggi Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) yang juga pemimpin tempatan, Peter Marajin.

“Kerajaan sering mendabik dada kononnya Kota Belud adalah jelapang padi negeri Sabah tetapi ratusan ekar sawah padi di Mukim Kelawat tidak ditanami padi. Mana pergi Rahman?

“Pernahkah Rahman prihatin dan melawat para petani sawah di Kelawat?,” tanya Marajin ketika melawat kawasan itu hujung minggu lalu.

MACC panelist under fire for defending Musa

By Calvin Kabaron

MACC panelist Abdul Rahman Dahlan's credibility is now
under question after he openly defended Musa Aman over
the RM40 million political donation.

KOTA BELUD: Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan has been reminded that he sits on a Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) panel and should not be too quick to jump and openly defend his Umno colleagues who are subject to corruption investigations.

Abdul Rahman sits on a MACC’s Special Committee on Anti-Corruption.

Last week he jumped to Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman’s defence over the RM40 million issue.

Commenting on this, Kota Belud State Reform Party (STAR) head Jalumin Bayogoh said Abdul Rahman’s defence of his party colleagues was an indication of a conflict of interest as he is supposed to help expose corruption and propose ways to strengthen approaches to stamp out graft and power abuses in the country.

Najib visiting Sabah… again

Political analysts in Sabah are of the opinion that
Najib Tun Razak's meeting with Sabah Umno in
Sandakan this weekend could be tense.

By Calvin Kabaron
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is set to fly into Sabah for a two-day visit on Saturday (Sept 1) a day after Merdeka Day, which has raised a storm here over the federal government’s insistence that the nation is celebrating its 55th birthday.

It’s Najib’s fourth visit to Sabah this year and comes six weeks after his last visit to Keningau on June 16. All have so far been carefully staged affairs to give the impression that he is popular in the state.

Though there is no official statement about his itinerary here, signboards welcoming him and wife Rosmah Mansor, are already up in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and in Kota Belud, the birth place of Sabah Umno.