KOTA KINABALU: National-based Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth leaders in Sabah have questioned the relevance in setting up the Gabungan Pergerakan Pemuda Sabah by their counterparts in UPKO, PBS and PBRS.
Gerakan Sabah deputy Youth chief Chan Tzun Hei and his counterpart from MIC Sabah, Taren Sunil Manoharan, are of the opinion that the move by the three Kadazandusun Murut parties goes against the ‘esprit de corps’ of the youth movements in BN.
Chan, who is also Gerakan National Deputy Youth Secretary, stressed that there is no need for BN Youth to be duplicated.
In his statement yesterday, Chan said that any claims and struggles for Sabahans must be voiced out via the BN Youth platform as there is no other organization more suitable and effective than the BN coalition.
As a multi-racial party, Gerakan Sabah Youth fully supports the requests and demands made by any BN component party if what they are asking for will benefit everyone, he said.
“However, the idea (to set up the coalition) should have been tabled and discussed among the BN Youth movement,” he said.
Chan claimed that the existence of a new channel that overshadows BN Youth can result in the general public having an inaccurate perception and interpretation of the situation which can also make it appear as if the national movement is not effective in defending the rights of Sabahans.
“I am confident that the Youth leaders representing the other BN component parties will have no objections and will be supportive of any issues if they are not baseless and important in respect of Sabah,” he added.
According to him, the ‘esprit de corps’ of the youth movements in BN which focuses on strengthening understanding and consensus is the best channel to ensure the success of the coalition’s efforts in defending the rakyat’s rights, especially those in Sabah.
Chan also stressed that the BN Youth leaders need to meet more often so that they can discuss issues and come to an agreement among the component parties.
Taran, meanwhile questioned the real motive behind the setting up of the Gabungan Pergerakan Pemuda Sabah and opined that there could be undisclosed reason why PBS, PBRS and UPKO youth leaders had signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU).
He claimed that the setting up of the Gabungan Pergerakan Pemuda Sabah could be confusing and should not have been done because all the parties are represented in the Sabah BN Youth.
It also creates the perception that the Sabah BN Youth is not united, he said.
On issues affecting the grassroots which needed to be brought to the attention of the state and federal governments, they must be discussed among the Sabah BN Youth, he said, and felt that the Gabungan Pergerakan Pemuda Sabah does not appear to agree with the leadership of both the state and central BN leaderships.
Both Youth leaders commented on the move by PBRS, UPKO and PBS Youth movements to sign a MoU in Keningau on Saturday which significantly forms a united front and cooperation between the parties concerned.
Those who signed the MoU were PBS Youth chief Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin, PBRS Youth chief Arthur Joseph Kurup and UPKO Youth chief Arthur Sen.
Meanwhile, Kampung Minawo Laut Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Melitus Anastasius fully supports the setting up of the Gabungan Pergerakan Pemuda Sabah to defend the rights of the natives of the state.
He said the united front would strengthen the ties of Kadazan Dusun and Murut (KDM).
“Fighting for the rights as voiced out by the combined youth movement representing the KDM is an agenda that has long been awaited by the people in the state,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Kampung Lingkudau JKKK chairman Kennedy Bukat also strongly supports the step taken by the three BN Youth movements to defend the indigenous people’s rights for so long as they do not create disunity among the people of the state.
“Their noble purpose should be supported by all parties to be united through strong solidarity among people of various races and religions in the state,”he said.