Sabah Progressive Party Explained

Country:Malaysia
Sabah Progressive Party
Native Name:Parti Maju Sabah
Lang1:Malay
Name Lang1:Parti Maju Sabah[1]
Lang2:Chinese
Name Lang2:沙巴進步黨
沙巴进步党
Shābā jìnbù dǎng
Abbreviation:SAPP
Chairman:Yeo Kai Seng
Mohd. Noor Mansoor
Joseph Voon Shin Choi
Murshidi Nambi
Yong Tet Yin
Awang Talip Awang Bagul
Geoffrey Yee Lung Fuk
Francis Yapp Tai Nyen
Chong Kon Fui
President:Yong Teck Lee
Secretary General:Richard Yong We Kong
Spokesperson:Chong Pit Fah
Leader1 Title:Deputy President
Leader1 Name:Liew Teck Chan
Amde Sidik
Eric Majimbun
Melanie Chia Chui Ket
Edward Dagul
Leader2 Title:Youth Chief
Leader2 Name:Jamain Sarudin
Leader3 Title:Women Chief
Leader3 Name:Chia Miu Lee
Leader4 Title:Treasurer General
Leader4 Name:Japiril Suhaimin Bandaran
Leader5 Title:Vice President
Leader5 Name:Datu Shuaib Datu Mutalib
Aloysius Danim Siap
Carrie Fong Tet Meng
Split:United Sabah Party
Founder:Yong Teck Lee
Foundation:21 January 1994
Headquarters:House No. 1115, Lorong Kelengkeng 1, Taman Antarabangsa, 3rd Mile, Jalan Tuaran Lama, Likas, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Youth Wing:SAPP Youth Movement
Wing1 Title:Women's wing
Wing1:SAPP Women's Movement
Ideology:Regionalism
Colours: Yellow, green and blue
Seats1 Title:Dewan Negara
Seats2 Title:Dewan Rakyat
Seats2: (Sabah and Labuan seats)
Seats3 Title:Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Slogan:Bersama Kita Membangun, Serentak Kita Maju

The Sabah Progressive Party (Malay: Parti Maju Sabah, abbreviated SAPP)[1] is a multiracial political party based in Sabah, Malaysia. It was registered on 21 January 1994 by dissidents led by former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee from United Sabah Party. Formerly a component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, SAPP officially withdrew from BN in September 2008 to become independent.[2] As of 2010, SAPP has two representatives in the national legislature and two in the Sabah State Assembly. In 2016, the party together with Homeland Solidarity Party formed the United Sabah Alliance.[3] It later joined the United Alliance together with STAR and PBS in 2018. The SAPP became the main component party of the Perikatan Nasional and GRS coalition, the successor of United Alliance that was established in 2020 and registered in 2022.

History

Formation, joining Barisan Nasional

The party was formed on 21 January 1994, by factions of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by its vice-president Yong Teck Lee, who disagrees with directions the PBS leader Joseph Pairin Kitingan is taking the party and state. Yong, who were the Deputy Chief Minister under Pairin, togethers with members of his faction, resigns from PBS on the day of SAPP's formation.[4] The party was registered just in time to enter the 1994 Sabah state election, which SAPP entered under the banner of Barisan Nasional, and won 3 seats out of seven SAPP contested.When BN regains control of the state on March that year after further defections from PBS, SAPP were part of the government in Sabah. Yong were appointed as the state's Chief Minister from 1996 to 1998, under then rotation system between Muslim bumiputera, Non-Muslim bumiputera, and Chinese leaders for two year tenure each.

Withdrawal from Barisan Nasional

The SAPP won two parliamentary seats in the general election held on 8 March 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 18 June 2008 that the party would file a "no-confidence motion" in the Dewan Rakyat on 23 June against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, calling on him to step down. The party, criticising 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.[5] [6] The majority of the Sabah population are generally content with the SAPP no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Abdullah 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 Abdullah, the BN supreme council issued a show-cause letter to SAPP.[7] A 30-day period was to give SAPP a chance to reply and defend itself before BN took any action against them.[8]

On 17 September 2008, SAPP quit Barisan Nasional.[9] Nevertheless, the decision came at a price as the party's deputy president, one of its vice-presidents,[10] and its youth chief (who chose to remain within BN) all opposed the move and withdrew from the party.[11] Some 2,000 members of the party similarly disagreed from the move and left the party, showing support for these dissident leaders.[12]

Forming the United Sabah Alliance

In 2016, the party formed a part of the United Sabah Alliance (USA).[3]

Representatives

Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly)

Malaysian State Assembly Representatives

See main article: List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2022–present). Sabah State Legislative Assembly

StateNo.State Constituency MemberParty
Nominated Member SAPP
Total

General election results

ElectionTotal seats wonSeats contestedTotal votesVoting PercentageOutcome of electionElection leader
199522 seats; Government coalition
Yong Teck Lee
199920 seats; Government coalition
Yong Teck Lee
2004216,426 0.24%0 seats; Government coalition
Yong Teck Lee
2008230,827 0.39%0 seats; Government coalition
,
later Opposition
Yong Teck Lee
2013810,099 0.09%2 seats; No representation in Parliament Yong Teck Lee
201856,090 0.05%0 seats; No representation in Parliament Yong Teck Lee
202215,0540.03%0 seats; No representation in Parliament
Yong Teck Lee

State election results

State electionState Legislative Assembly
SabahTotal won / Total contested
2/3 majority
1994
1999
2004
2008
2013
2018
2020

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parti Maju Sabah – Bersama Kita Membangun, Serentak Kita Maju. 2020-12-03. en-US.
  2. Web site: SAPP pulls out of Barisan. Muguntan Vanar. Ruben Sario. The Star. 18 September 2008. 19 September 2008.
  3. Web site: Gabungan Sabah, perpaduan parti parti pembangkang tempatan yang dinantikan sekian lama. ms. Sabah Progressive Party. 12 February 2018. 12 April 2018.
  4. Web site: SAPP Party Background . legacy.sapp.org.my . 8 July 2024.
  5. Web site: SAPP's vote of no confidence against PM (Update 2). The Star. 18 June 2008. 18 June 2008.
  6. Web site: SAPP sticking to no-confidence stand. The Star. 31 July 2008. 31 July 2008.
  7. Web site: Show-cause letter may be issued to SAPP. The Star. 22 June 2008. 22 June 2008.
  8. Web site: SAPP gets show-cause letter. Shahanaaz Habib. Florence A. Samy. Manjit Kaur. The Star. 27 June 2008. 28 June 2008.
  9. Web site: Malaysia party quits coalition; PM cedes key post. Jalil Hamid. Faisal Aziz. Liau Y-Sing. David Chance. Jeremy Laurence. Reuters. 17 September 2008. 17 September 2008.
  10. Web site: SAPP pulls out of Barisan. Muguntan Vanar. Ruben Sario. The Star. 18 September 2008. 19 September 2008.
  11. Web site: 15 out of 17 SAPP branches in Sandakan opt to follow Tan in staying with Barisan. The Star. 21 September 2008. 22 September 2008.
  12. Web site: 2,000 SAPP Members Quit Party. Bernama. Sin Chew Daily. 20 September 2008. 22 September 2008.