Sabah DCM Raymond Tan faces hurdle to keep post

A dispute is brewing in Sabah over whether Deputy Chief Minister Raymond Tan Shu Kiah should be allowed to keep his state cabinet and government posts, following his decision on Tuesday to join Gerakan.

Tan's (right) decision ended his nine-month partyless position and he would likely be appointed as Gerakan's Sabah vice-chairman.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN), thinks that Tan's latest decision should not mean his state cabinet and governmental posts will automatically go to Gerakan. Tan is also the State Minister of Infrastructure Development.

However, there are fears that the Chief Minister Musa Aman would exercise his prerogative powers in favour of Tan. These powers have come under attack lately with BN leaders saying that it should be exercised after considering the feelings of the people.

Face-off: MCA, Gerakan, LDP, PBS

"MCA deserves the post (DCM) for the Chinese quota in Sabah because it is the largest Chinese-based party in Malaysia. It has a longer history than Gerakan of serving the people in Sabah," said LDP Youth Chief Chin Shu Ying.

Chin pointed out that the LDP has a better claim to the DCM post since it has the most number of state assembly persons compared with other Chinese-based parties in the state. Although MCA has only one state assembly person in Sabah, he said LDP is willing to make way for MCA, also a component party in BN.

"MCA would be able to make full use of the party's four Federal ministers to help the Chinese community in Sabah," he explained.

Other LDP leaders have denied that the party is eyeing for Tan's post. Instead, they noted that the DCM candidate can also come from the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

On top of this, objections had been raised within BN component parties against MCA securing the DCM post, on grounds that it is a Peninsular Malaysia-based political party. Former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tham Nyip Shen were among those who objected.

MCA made a last ditch effort on Monday to court Tan to join the party despite him ruling out the possibility a day earlier. MCA has been in the forefront, along with the LDP, demand that the then partyless Tan to quit his state cabinet and government posts.

Tan remained with BN when the Sabah Peoples Progressive Party (Sapp) pulled out from the coalition last Sept 17, citing loss of confidence in the Federal leadership and expressing unhappiness over a host of unresolved local grievances.

More opposition

LDP Chin's remarks have also struck a chord with the United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation (Upko), urging Tan not to take along the DCM post to Gerakan. Upko President Bernard Giluk Dompok said he has gave his opinion on the matter to the Chief Minister.

"The action to bring more component parties into the state government may lead to the problem of political party flooding. This will directly affect the credibility and image of the BN in Sabah," said Upko Deputy Youth Chief Masiung Banah, also the Kuamut state assembly person

Besides Gerakan, BN Sabah includes four other Peninsular Malaysia-based parties, namely Umno, MCA, MIC and PPP. Besides LDP, local BN component member parties are Dusun-based parties-PBS, Upko and PBRS (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah).

PBS President Joseph Pairin Kitingan (left) opines that it is only natural for people to question Tan's position in the state cabinet and government. "It is up to the people to analyse what had transpired and their perception, among others. This must be taken into consideration also," said Pairin, one of the three Deputy Chief Ministers in the state cabinet.

PBS Sri Tanjung Publicity Chief, Tong Yun Fah, likewise expressed similar sentiments and challenged Tan to step down from the state cabinet and government posts. He claimed that Tan has failed the Chinese community and cited infrastructure problems even in his Tanjung Papat seat despite the latter being voted in for the last two terms.

A confident Tan

Meanwhile, Tan said he has no plans to resign from the state cabinet or his government posts and is leaving his fate in the hands of Chief Minister Musa Aman (right) .

"These people who make statements against me or who are angry with me will probably continue to do it but it doesn't matter. I understand their feelings but it's more important that they understand me," he said when asked to comment on the calls for him to relinquish his posts.

"More importantly, I have got the blessings of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. I am leaving it to them to decide on my posts."

Tan pointed out that the Chief Minister has prerogative powers. It is understood that the Chief Minister would make a formal recommendation, in exercising his prerogative powers, to Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak on the status of Tan's state cabinet and government posts.

The word from the Chief Minister's office is that "there's no need to rush now".

According to Tan, membership in Gerakan guarantees that he not only gets to keep his present state cabinet and government posts but also his Tanjung Papat seat in the state assembly. Since Sapp is no longer under BN, Tanjung Papat and Elopura are likely to be allotted to Gerakan in the next polling date in Sabah.

Political observers said Tan seems to be ideal for Gerakan since the party had no Parliamentary or state seat in Sabah, prior to Tan's membership along with Elopura state assembly person, Au Kam Wah.

Political secretary to the Chief Minister Jimmy Wong, an ex-Sapp member, has since declared that he will join Gerakan.