Barisan Nasional's former component Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) has appointed Jaineh Juata @ Jimmy Jawatah as its new assistant organising secretary and Amde Sidik to its supreme council.

Amde, 56, an academic and columnist, who hails from Sipitang, became a party member on the day Sapp declared itself no longer a member of BN on Sept 17 last year.

Amde is an author of several books and lectures commercial law at a local university and is a regular contributor to local, regional and international newspapers.

Amde decided to join Sapp because he believes it to be the only Sabah-based party which can really focus on solving many of the state's problems.

"SAPP is going to be a full fledged multi-racial party which I consider in the long run to be where most Malaysians are heading to. At present, political parties are seen as racial parties.

"Even today, SAPP is made to be seen as a race-based political party. In view of this perception, I am keen to participate to help shape the multi-racial direction of the party as a way forward for Malaysians," he said.

Provide an alternative

Sapp information chief Chong Pit Fah told Malaysiakini today that the new appointments to the party's supreme council coincided with the acceptance of 2,000 new members into SAPP comprising 600 from the newly established constituency liaison committee (CLC) Petagas with the rest from the Sandakan zone, interior zone of Melalap and Kemabong and Tawau zone of Balung and Apas and other districts in Sabah.

In the Petagas CLC, ex-political secretary to the then federal minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dullie Haji Marie has been appointed as chairperson.

Dullie said he joined SAPP because he "believes in its struggle and leadership".

SAPP, he said, as a multi-racial Sabah-based party will provide an alternative to the people. "This is the situation that the people have been waiting for so long."

"Sabahans actually demand for their autonomy and other rights enshrined in the 20-point agreement. Now the people have the opportunity and SAPP will provide them the avenue to decide their future," he added.

Previously, Dullie was a member of Akar until the dissolution of the party on May 21, 2001. Four years later, he joined Umno but relinquished his Umno branch chairmanship and membership and joined Sapp.

Chong said the acceptance of new members into SAPP shows that many people have the real desire to see Sapp lead Sabah on a new path.

"As the local Sabah party outside BN, SAPP members are encouraged by new members who have joined the party to fight for a brighter future for Sabah.

"SAPP has been getting strong support and requests from political activists in rural and sub-urban districts to set up branches and constituency liaison committees," he added.