KINABATANGAN: The atmosphere at the handing-over of the appointment of native community leaders ceremony for Lamag state constituency at Dewan Sri Milian today descended into chaos as certain leaders of the GRS coalition party expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of positions.
Lamag Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Chief Haji Latif Taha took the stage during the announcement of appointments by Lamag GRS Chief Abu Bakar Gapar.
Latif voiced his discontent with the distribution of Adat Chief positions, claiming that they were unfairly monopolised by GRS, with other coalition members such as PBS receiving fewer appointments.
According to Latip, there was already an agreement between him as the Lamag PBS Chief and the Community Development Leader (PPM) of Lamag, Nizam Johari, for the appointments of the Adat Chiefs in the area to be made fairly and transparently according to the positions of the coalition parties in the GRS in the area.
“We (PBS) were disappointed today when the appointments announced by the Chief of the GRS Lamag branch, Abu Bakar Gapar, were more biassed towards PGRS, as this matter was not discussed at the round table before any decision was made,” claimed Latip.
The ceremony, officiated by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Isnin Haji Aliasneh, and attended by the Director of UPPM, Datuk Awang Kadin Tang, eventually turned chaotic.
Latip added that it was unfair for PBS in the area, which is one of the largest component parties in the GRS in the area, to only receive a few appointments compared to PGRS, which monopolised the appointments.
He also mentioned that the STAR party was luckier as they received five appointments for the positions of native community leaders in the area.
“We are disappointed that the name of the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, is often misused, where the appointment issue is linked to directives,” he said.
