KOTA KINABALU, Oct 4 ― The state chapter of DAP has appointed new leaders to replace those who left on Sunday.
Its chairman, Stephen Wong, said that the new line-up that includes Kepayan state assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi as deputy chairman, would show that the party was still intact and ready to continue its fight for the people.
The new line up and restructuring sees former Sabah chairman Jimmy Wong appointed as advisor, Bosi replacing Joan Goh, Frankie Poon replacing George Hiew as vice president, Sri Tanjung assemblyman Chan Foong Hin replacing Junz Wong as secretary and Ronnie Loh replacing David Williams as treasurer among others.
The party will officially endorse the new committee in its annual general meeting on November 20 later this year.
Although still visibly upset with the departure of the seven, Stephen said he was open to working with local opposition for straight fight contests against the Barisan Nasional but with conditions.
But he still lashed out at Junz Wong over claims the latter was enticing DAP members to his side.
“It’s one thing to leave yourself for your new house, but don’t try to damage your old house in the process. This I cannot tolerate. Why tear down the party that has brought him up?
“This is the mentality of an opportunists and not true opposition. If Junz was really a sincere opposition politician, he would try to persuade members of the BN coalition instead of further damaging the opposition,” he said.
Stephen, who predicted Junz will join former Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s new party, said that the latter’s “unprofessional” behaviour will hamper future negotiations with Shafie’s party, which was already underway.
Chan also said that the party was open to negotiations for a formula to allow straight fights against the BN but on the condition that it got to keep all the seats it won in the last elections.
“We are not trying to belittle the local parties, but we need there to be some mutual respect – give back the seats we won to us. Junz and his people are welcome to strengthen their new party, but please don’t try to take what we worked so hard on all this while. And don’t try to sweet talk others into leaving,” he said.
On the current emergence of local parties, Chan insisted that the Sabah branch of DAP has consistenly been fighting for the same equality.
“Let’s move away from narrow minded local sentiments and look at the big picture. Even if a local government wins, you still need the federal government to make changes to the constitution.
“Let’s throw Umno out of power. Our doors are always open to do that together. But we need mutual respect to do that,” he said.
Last Sunday, Junz and six other committee members, along with several PKR leaders including state chief Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin announced a mass resignation from their respective parties, with the aim of joining a local platform.
Lajim announced that he was in the process of forming his own party, while Junz said he has yet to make a decision, and that he was deciding between Shafie’s and Lajim’s party.
