Kota Kinabalu, Wednesday, 15 October 2025
The draft manifesto proposed by SAPP to the GRS earlier this year was already rejected. Key issues like GRS going solo by contesting all the 73 State seats were rejected outright. Issues like Labuan, Sabah IC, TYT Negara were not agreed by GRS. Land reforms, Continental Shelf and MA63 issues were not given sufficient weight. Since our proposals cannot be agreed by GRS, our struggle in GRS became hollow. SAPP then had to choose to carry on our struggle in our own way. SAPP cannot be a “dog chase car with no objective.”
SAPP has chosen to continue our struggle with another party led by a leader who has proven himself to be unwavering and fearless in his struggle for Sabah rights. That party is STAR led by Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan with an army of fearless Sabahans. He is neither alone nor lonely.
Every Sabahan knows the struggle of Dr. Jeffrey for Sabah rights. Dr. Jeffey was even detained without trial under the then draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) but he remains steadfast in his struggle for Sabah. This is an extremely rare strength of character of a leader.
Many young Malaysians don’t know about the cruelty of the now-abolished ISA that was abused to lock up Sabahans who dared to defy the federal abuse of Sabah. Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan was one of them.
Sabahan’s Long March is nearing its victorious destination
Political struggles can take a long time. The STAR SAPP campaign for Sabah Day took twelve years (2012 to 2024). The STAR SAPP annual campaign to declassify the Double Six air crash report took thirteen years (2010 to 2023).
It took us three years (2010 – 2013) to make MA63 become a mainstream issue that forced the Federal government to concede, starting with the Borneonisation of the public service after the Borneonisation case in 2011. By now, even Malaya parties jump onto the MA63 bandwagon because they cannot fight against the will of the Sabah people.
More pains before sweetness
Political struggle is not a bed of roses. People offering themselves as candidates must realise that politics can be brutal and rough. Being a candidate is not a privilege. There will be more pains and bitterness before Sabahans can taste the sweet fruit of success.
On the matter of seats sharing in GRS, I have refused to propose to GRS which seats that SAPP wanted to contest unless GRS first commits to going solo for the 73 seats. As GRS refused to go solo, SAPP refused to reveal the constituencies or how many seats that SAPP plans to contest. Any of the members of the GRS presidents can confirm this stand of SAPP.
Discussions among GRS leaders were cordial and gentlemanly but frank and honest. I urge other Sabah political leaders to be similarly civil and watch your language when talking about each other because the federal side is watching to see how to further divide Sabahans and our leaders. Their motives are obvious.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee
President, SAPP