KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP has come to Warisan’s defence over the budget vote row, calling out former Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau for damaging ties between the two Sabah opposition parties.
In a statement today, Sabah DAP publicity secretary Phoong Jin Zhe criticised Boo for his outburst towards Warisan, calling it unwarranted.
“His comments have caused unjustified damage to opposition unity in the state.
“He should have channelled his views, opinions and complaints via internal opposition channels first, or perhaps through Sabah DAP,” Phoong said in a statement today.
The Luyang assemblyman added that Boo’s views were purely his own and did not represent the party.
“By making such a demand for apology from Warisan out of the blue and bypassing Sabah DAP, he not only put us in an awkward position, but he is also threatening opposition unity at the federal level.”
Phoong also called out Boo for deflecting the blame to Warisan MPs on the budget vote, when it was opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim who was responsible.
“It is morally wrong to divert the responsibility to Warisan for being absent at the committee stage bloc voting while conveniently ignoring the fact that Anwar as the opposition leader had failed to achieve the majority to turn down the budget based on his claim of having a strong, formidable and convincing majority last September,” he said.
He added that it was not the time for finger pointing anymore but instead, to fulfil the wishes of Malaysians who want to see a united and progressive opposition camp.
“And we urgently need a strong opposition leader that can offer alternatives to revive the ‘New Malaysia’ dream.”
Earlier today, Warisan treasurer-general Terrence Siambun also hit out at Boo, who had reprimanded MPs from his party for sitting out the budget votes in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
Siambun had said it was pointless to debate further on the 27 supply bills at the committee stage when Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders themselves had already agreed to allow the budget to pass on Nov 26.
“Boo should instead pose the question to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as to why he failed to perform his fiduciary duty to object to the budget last week,” he said.
Yesterday, Boo said Sabahans had voted for Warisan to represent them in Parliament and that the party was not elected just to vent personal grudges against a single leader or PH itself.
Boo added that the Warisan MPs had failed taxpayers by not voting against the budgets for the Prime Minister’s Department and finance ministry which were passed on Monday in the Dewan Rakyat by slim majorities in a bloc vote.