Sabahans rally against PSS
The gathering against Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) that took less than two hours at old Membakut town, was a peaceful event with local Opposition taking turns to give their views on the matter.
The “Himpunan Solidarity Rakyat: Bantah PSS” was organised by several NGOs including Pertubuhan Peningkatan Pendidikan Rakyat Sabah (Pipa) and Solidariti Rakyat Sabah (Sorak).
It was held on the same day as the tamu (weekly market) yesterday.
Among those present were Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, former Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, Sabah MCA women chief Dr Pamela Yong and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Some of the audience arrived as early as 8am, including those who drove from Kota Kinabalu. The event started around 9.30am and ended before 11.30am.
The event’s organising chairman Bangimin Ondoi Dulau, who is also from Pipa, said they collected 500 signatures as targeted for the “People’s Petition Against PSS” during the gathering.
“We had such an overwhelming turnout that we did not have enough pages (in the petition) to sign,” he added.
When asked whether they plan to hand it over to the government, he said, “We will pass it to the leadership, they will decide but it will probably be used to frame a memorandum.”
In Beaufort, a man carrying a wooden machete in his car was held for investigations during a roadblock along the Kimanis-Beaufort road yesterday morning.
Beaufort OCPD Deputy Supt Azmir Razak said they wanted to find out what he was planning on using it for.
“We received various security-related information over this gathering so we had to verify and make sure that all was safe,” he said after the gathering.
On reports of election offences so far, he said they have received eight reports and are investigating the matter.
“We are conducting our probe regardless of whether those involved are from the government or not,” said DSP Azmir.
Earlier, he said the gathering which lasted for about two hours went smoothly and abided by the laws.
However, they will still conduct a post-mortem to check through the speeches among other matters, to find out whether any offences were made.
The Star
