By Roy Goh THREE assemblymen will be seated with different views when the Sabah 2014 Budget is presented at the state legislative assembly this Friday.
After their unceremonious departure recently, they will not be sitting with the opposition Pakatan line-up and surely not with Barisan Nasional backbenchers.
Despite claiming to be government or BN-friendly independents, Hiew King Chiu, Jelani Hamdan and Jeremy Malajad will be on their own.
How they plan to support BN is anybody's guess, but they can expect a hostile reception from Pakatan lawmakers.
Hiew was the first to leave DAP in September, followed by Jeremy and Jelani from PKR on different days last week.
This sparked strong protests from the parties they represented in the May 5 general election this year, apart from showing cracks in the loose alliance. It also exposed undelivered promises that were eventually used by the trio as part of their excuse to leave the opposition pact.
Following the election, Pakatan reasoned it needed to provide greater recognition to Kadazandusun leaders to hold on to its support in Sabah. Leaders from the community were promised key positions but were left out.
Former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin was made Sabah PKR chief and opposition leader in the state assembly. Hiew disagreed, however, on how Lajim was picked as the leader while Jelani and Jeremy felt the Kadazandusuns were marginalised by PKR.
Pakatan is now left with eight assemblymen -- five from PKR and three from DAP. Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitin BN can also make do without the three independents as they still command a big majority or 48 of the 60 seats in the state assembly.
Some of the BN component parties would not be too excited if their coalition partners roped in any of the three under their wing.
Hiew was Kota Kinabalu member of parliament after the 2008 general election and Luyang assemblyman after May 5, defeating candidates from PBS and MCA respectively.
Jeremy, the Kadamaian assemblyman, was with Upko but jumped ship to PKR to contest against PBS incumbent Herbert Timbun Lagadan.
As for Jelani, who was once a rising star in Umno before being suspended for money politics, his return to BN would likely not be welcomed. PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili made it clear recently when he said BN would need to be wary of their intentions.
"Direct acceptance of opposition representatives into a BN component party is essentially party hopping and unprincipled political behaviour.
"It is gratifying that members of the opposition and their elected representatives have realised that only BN can deliver for the people. PBS welcomes new BN supporters but, as a principle, it prefers to be cautious of elected representatives who have jumped parties.
"It is important to know if those who left the opposition were sincere in their actions," said Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu MP.
As a rule, former BN members who contested for the opposition could not be accepted without full consent from coalition members.
Upko secretary-general Datuk Donald Mojuntin said it was only fair for the coalition partners that were affected in the elections.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had lambasted the three party hoppers and blamed the BN for enttheir respective parties.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, however, said Anwar should look within the opposition alliance before pointing fingers at others.
"There are certain leaders in Pakatan who have come to realise that to stay on with the coalition would be futile.
"They are moving on to serve their constituencies. Instead of blaming others for its weaknesses, Pakatan should examine itself."
Read more: Former Sabah Pakatan reps face hostile reception - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/former-sabah-pakatan-reps-face-hostile-reception-1.399132#ixzz2kUQazgcI
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