Dissatisfaction against leadership - The Star

KOTA KINABALU: May 20, 2008

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must take note of the dissatisfaction against his leadership, Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman said.

“There must be something deeply wrong. It is not one person’s (Dr Mahathir) dissatisfaction or Sabah's ... if you talk to MPs from Sarawak or even Peninsular Malaysia, you'll see that they are unhappy, but because of party line, they keep quiet.

“I think it is time for the leadership to differentiate between self-interest and the interest of the party and nation,” said Anifah, who made it clear that he intends to remain in the party.

Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said Dr Mahathir’s resignation was sending shockwaves because of his immense influence among Umno grassroots.

“I think the nation is in for exciting politics. I also believe Sabah MPs will now consider supporting Lim Kit Siang’s motion in Parliament today for a Royal Commission on the Sabah illegal immigrant problem,” he added.

Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh said that Dr Mahathir, as a veteran politician, had sent a message by quitting the party and it was another call for the leadership to listen to the voices within the party.

“They (leadership) have to listen and rectify. It is not necessary for Abdullah to resign but respond to the voices of the people,” said Ghapur, who added that he had no intention of quitting the party but wanted to see Sabah's needs attended to.

Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said it was unbecoming of Dr Mahathir to abruptly quit from the party as it would trigger speculation among the people.

“My hope is that the Umno top leadership will make an effort to meet Dr Mahathir and thrash out the problems between them,” he said.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman, who is Sabah Umno chief, is expected to issue a statement today, according to his office while Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said he would wait for further developments before commenting