SAPP to contest two-thirds of Sabah state seats

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has revealed that it is negotiating with Pakatan Rakyat to contest two-thirds of Sabah's 60 state seats in the next general election.

In a statement today, SAPP deputy president Amdee Sidik (left) expressed the party’s support for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister.

He also revealed details of seat negotiations between SAPP and Pakatan.

"Our (Sepanggar) MP Eric Majimbun (below) has been in touch with (PKR deputy president) Azmin Ali and (vice-president) Tian Chua of PKR,” he said.

"SAPP may take two-thirds of Sabah state seats, while Pakatan takes one-third. In the case of parliamentary constituencies, Pakatan would like to (take) two-thirds (of the seats) and SAPP may take one-third. That is the kind of discussion that SAPP leaders are holding with Pakatan.”

Amdee stressed that SAPP is not a stooge of the BN and that it is committed to topple the BN-led state government in the next general election.

The Sabah chapter of the Sarawak Reform Party (Star), led by maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan, has also expressed its intention to contest in all the state seats.

Another ambitious opposition party is the Sabah People’s Front led by Berman Angkap.

‘No deal with Star’

In a separate statement, Amdee clarified that SAPP has not held negotiations with Star to form an opposition front.

"Reports in the last two days saying that I had led the arrangement and negotiations on behalf of SAPP with the Star are not true.

"What Jeffery (right) announced was that he is seeing the possibility of forming an alliance with the idea of consolidating power to topple BN.”

Amdee emphasised that SAPP is a "friend" to all opposition parties but not those that claim to struggle for Sabah while assisting the BN.

"Leaders of SAPP are credible enough to stand on our own. We shall field candidates in constituencies where we are prepared - for example, where we have candidates and offices."

He claimed that SAPP is the only opposition party in the state to have carried out serious preparations to face the election.

"Look at our infrastructure, we don’t only have offices but we own the buildings - meaning, we don’t rent premises by night," he added.