Sabah Progressive Party
Encyclopedia
The Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Maju Sabah) is a political party
based in Sabah
, East Malaysia
. It was registered on 21 January 1994 by dissidents led by former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee
from Parti Bersatu Sabah
(PBS). Formerly a component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional
(BN) coalition, SAPP officially withdrew from BN in September 2008 to become independent. As of 2010, SAPP has two representatives in the national legislature
and two in the Sabah State Assembly
.
held on March 8, 2008. After the 2008 election, there were calls by many Sabahan political parties for more autonomy from the Malaysian federal government.
SAPP President Yong Teck Lee
announced on June 18, 2008 that the party would file a no-confidence motion in the Dewan Rakyat on June 23 against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
, calling on him to step down. The party, criticizing what it described as insensitivity on the part of the government towards issues in Sabah, said that it was taking advantage of a unique "window of opportunity" for the sake of Sabah interests, including autonomy, return of Labuan and 20% of oil revenues.
The majority of the Sabah population are generally content with the SAPP no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
who has been accused a number of wrongdoings including corruption and abuse of power. In retaliation for calling for a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Barisan Nasional supreme council will issue a show-cause letter to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP). A 30-day period was to give SAPP a chance to reply and defend itself before Barisan Nasional takes any action against them.
On September 17, 2008, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) quit Barisan Nasional. Nevertheless, the decision came at a price as the party's deputy president, one of its vice-president, and its youth chief (who chose to remain within the BN fold) all opposed to the move, withdrew from the party. Some 2000 members of the party also similarly dissented the move and left the party showing support for these dissident leaders.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
based in Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
, East Malaysia
East Malaysia
East Malaysia, also known as Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia located on the island of Borneo. It consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. It lies to the east from Peninsular Malaysia , which is located on the Malay Peninsula. The two are...
. It was registered on 21 January 1994 by dissidents led by former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee
Yong Teck Lee
Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee is a Malaysian politician of Hakka Chinese descent. He is a former Chief Minister of Sabah and is currently the president of the Sabah Progressive Party .-Political History:...
from Parti Bersatu Sabah
Parti Bersatu Sabah
The Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985...
(PBS). Formerly a component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
(BN) coalition, SAPP officially withdrew from BN in September 2008 to become independent. As of 2010, SAPP has two representatives in the national legislature
Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
and two in the Sabah State Assembly
Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah
The Sabah State Legislative Assembly is the state legislature of the Malaysian state of Sabah. It is a unicameral institution, consisting of a total of 60 lawmakers including one speaker....
.
Withdrawal from Barisan Nasional
The SAPP won two parliamentary seats in the general electionMalaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
held on March 8, 2008. After the 2008 election, there were calls by many Sabahan political parties for more autonomy from the Malaysian federal government.
SAPP President Yong Teck Lee
Yong Teck Lee
Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee is a Malaysian politician of Hakka Chinese descent. He is a former Chief Minister of Sabah and is currently the president of the Sabah Progressive Party .-Political History:...
announced on June 18, 2008 that the party would file a no-confidence motion in the Dewan Rakyat on June 23 against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
, calling on him to step down. The party, criticizing what it described as insensitivity on the part of the government towards issues in Sabah, said that it was taking advantage of a unique "window of opportunity" for the sake of Sabah interests, including autonomy, return of Labuan and 20% of oil revenues.
The majority of the Sabah population are generally content with the SAPP no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
who has been accused a number of wrongdoings including corruption and abuse of power. In retaliation for calling for a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Barisan Nasional supreme council will issue a show-cause letter to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP). A 30-day period was to give SAPP a chance to reply and defend itself before Barisan Nasional takes any action against them.
On September 17, 2008, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) quit Barisan Nasional. Nevertheless, the decision came at a price as the party's deputy president, one of its vice-president, and its youth chief (who chose to remain within the BN fold) all opposed to the move, withdrew from the party. Some 2000 members of the party also similarly dissented the move and left the party showing support for these dissident leaders.