Sabah People's Progressive Party's (Sapp) four legislators, two state assemblypersons and two Members of Parliaments, are ready to quit their seats to pave the way for by-elections to fill the vacancies.

The "fabulous four" as they are popularly known as in the state, - Liew Teck Chan (Likas) and Melanie Chia (Luyang), both state assemblypersons and two members of Parliament, Eric Majimbun (Sepanggar) and Dr Chua Soon Bui (Tawau) - have expressed their readiness to quit in a signed joint statement.

sapp sabah pesta keamatan harvest festival 040509 02 However, the offer to quit comes with two caveats.

Firstly, the four want Industrial Development Minister Raymond Tan Shu Kiah and Au Kam Wah to also resign their Tanjung Papat and Elopura state seats as well.

These seats, the joint statement points out, had been held by the Sapp as a BN (Barisan Nasional) member since 1994 and "should not go to the Gerakan without a fight".

"If not for Sapp, they would not have been candidates in previous elections. And if not because of the efforts of members and supporters, they would not have been legislators holding high and lucrative posts in the government today," said the joint statement.

It says that that both Raymond Tan and Au Kam Wah were "never members of the BN because there is no provision for individual members in the coalition. They were members of Sapp who used Sapp's party machinery and members to win elections."

Change constitution

Also, the four want Article 17 (5) of the Sabah state constitution and Article 48 (6) of the Federal Constitution to be amended to allow those who quit their seats to re-contest. At present, those who resign their seats are barred for five years from re-contesting.

The sudden turn of events follows a dare by Tan who was formerly with Sapp and has since joined Gerakan.

Tan cited moral grounds for his dare, pointing out that the four had won their seats on a BN (Barisan Nasional) ticket, just like him.

"As a lawyer and four term legislator, Tan is not so ignorant that Article 17 (5) of the Sabah Constitution and Article 48(6) of the Federal Constitution bars a member of the House from contesting in an election for five years from the date of resignation," reads the joint statement.

sapp sabah pesta keamatan harvest festival 040509 The joint statement also calls on Gerakan to get the BN government to put into effect:

(a) The amendment to the Federal and Sabah constitutions to allow for members of the State Assembly and Parliament to re-contest their seats in by-elections after their respective resignations,

(b) The simultaneous resignations of Raymond Tan (Tanjong Papat) and Au Kam Wah (Elopura) with Sapp's state assemblypersons Liew Teck Chan (Likas), Melanie Chia Chui Ket (Luyang) and members of Parliament Eric Majimbun (Sepanggar) and Dr. Chua Soon Bui (Tawau).

Sapp pulled out from the BN on Sept 17 last year after expressing no confidence in the Federal leadership and citing a long list of unresolved local grievances.

Tan and Au decided to stay with the Government after the party's pull-out and joined Gerakan.