The Barisan Nasional supreme council will be holding an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss Sabah Progressive Party's (Sapp) shocking betrayal yesterday.The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister and BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Putra World Trade Centre at 2.30pm.The main issue on the agenda will be to discuss what action could be taken against Sapp for its 'betrayal' against the ruling coalition.
It is learnt that Sapp has not been invited to attend this meeting.Yesterday Sapp announced that it had lost confidence in Abdullah's leadership and thus would be backing a motion of no-confidence against the premier when Parliament resumes on Monday.
Sapp has two members of parliament - Dr Chua Soon Bui (Tawau) and Eric Enchin Majimbun (Sepanggar) - and four state assemblypersons in Sabah.
For now, Sapp has decided to remain in the 14-member ruling coalition.The BN meeting today may see calls being made for the Sabah-based party to be expelled from the ruling coalition.While three major BN coalition partners - MCA, MIC and Gerakan - had immediately thrown their support for Abdullah, the meeting this afternoon might also give an opportunity for other coalition members to state their stand.
Rallying behind AbdullahBN goes into this meeting knowing full well that de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim is waiting in the wings to welcome any defectors so that his opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition can form government.
Meanwhile AFP quoted Umno information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib as saying that the decision to call for the BN meeting was made last night, after Sapp's announcement."We will be discussing, obviously, the Sapp's call for a vote of no-confidence against the prime minister. The party has painted a very misleading picture," said Muhammad, one of Abdullah's trusted lieutenants.He condemned Yong, saying other coalition members "would rally behind Abdullah" at the gathering to be attended by at least 44 coalition party leaders."It is totally out of line. He should have used the forums within the coalition to voice his dissatisfaction instead of declaring ultimatums through the press."
A split in Sapp?
Sapp's decision to move the motion of no-confidence against Abdullah does not appear to have the full support of the party's leadership.Sapp deputy president Raymond Tan, who was conspiciously absence from the press conference yesterday when party president Yong Teck Lee made the announcement, said he was "confused and embarrassed" about Sapp's move.
He added that the party's supreme council was not consulted on the matter and blamed Yong of acting on his own."It is not proper for us to do it when Abdullah is the Barisan chairperson. It is disrespectful to the prime minister," he said. Tan is Sabah deputy chief minister and infrastructure minister.Sapp's four state assemblypersons were also absent from the press conference yesterday.Sapp will be holding its supreme council meeting tomorrow to decide whether it will stay in BN.
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