Sabah DAP voices rapturous support for Shafie Apdal as PM

By Olivia Miwil - June 28, 2020 @ 10:32am

led by chief Datuk Frankie Poon - said it welcomes Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's suggestion of having Shafie lead the country. - NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP has voiced enthusiastic support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as Malaysia's next Prime Minister.

In a statement, the party - led by chief Datuk Frankie Poon - said it welcomes Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's suggestion of having Shafie lead the country.

"It is the first time ever in the history of Malaysia that an East Malaysian has been touted as a potential prime ministerial candidate.

"Fifty-seven years have passed (since Malaysia's formation in 1963) and never has anyone from East Malaysia been seriously considered for the position of prime minister.

"We believe that it is about time someone from East Malaysia leads the country," the statement said.

As per the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya are three equal partners in the federation of Malaysia, with no region being more important or superior than the other.

The statement added that East Malaysia is able to produce capable and competent leaders who can steer the country, and who should be given a chance.

"There is no better time than now, when leaders from Peninsular Malaysia cannot decide on a better leader among themselves.

"With a true-blue East Malaysian as Prime Minister of the federation of Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak would no longer have to worry about the implementation of the Malaysian Agreement 1963, or being marginalised in development budgets anymore," it added.

Sabah DAP added that with Shafie at the helm, there will be a speedy resolution to the long-standing issues of oil royalty and petroleum cash payments, oil minerals and oil fields, a review of the Territorial Sea Act 2012 [Act 750], and state rights over the continental shelf, all of which previous and current prime ministers from the Peninsula have been unable to agree to.

"We hereby urge all East Malaysian Members of Parliament to rally support behind Shafie to make history in Malaysia – by having the first prime minister of Malaysia from the east.

"In particular, we call upon Sabah's PBS, STAR, PBRS, and Sarawak's GPS, to give their vote of confidence towards Shafie as prime minister.

"This will enable Sabah and Sarawak to benefit from more development and improve the living standards of the people here," it added.