Political Rewards For Leaders Without Grassroot Support Not Good For BN

TAMBUNAN, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The practice of political window dressing that rewards parties which have no grassroots support, such as a single-seat party or "party for partyless leaders", will not strengthen Barisan Nasional (BN) in the long term, said Parti Bersatu Sabah deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

He said that such a practice was good only for merry making but futile for winning seats and preserving Sabah as a bastion for Barisan's political dominance.

Ongkili, who attended the opening of Tambunan PBS' annual general meeting he today, said he fully supported PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan's statement that the Deputy Chief Minister's post for the Chinese quota should be held by a Sabah-based party.

Friday, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) supreme council member Datuk David Chong had challenged Pairin to object to any decision that would give the DCM post to a peninsula-based party.

"While BN Sabah is founded on a coalition framework and we fully subscribe to the 1Malaysia concept, the political management of Sabah especially in terms of ethnic representation at the highest level should be given to a Sabah-based party that holds strong grassroot support.

"This approach is also consistent with the aspirations of Malaysians in Sabah, especially Barisan Nasional's supporters," Ongkili said.