POOR ATTENDANCE AT APS LAUNCHING IN SEPANGGAR

Poor attendance at APS launching in Sepanggar

KOTA KINABALU 4/11/2012: The launching of the Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) in Sepanggar near here on November 2 night ended in a total embarrassment for the movement.

Informers had confirmed that the launching, due to be officiated by Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred M Bumburing, was attended by only about 50 people.

“In fact the group that came with Datuk Wilfred and Datuk Maijol (Mahap) numbered about 43 people, hence the actual locals from Sepanggar who attended were actually only about six or seven people,”

said one informer who asked not to be named.

It is reported that Wilfred was so disappointed by the attendance that he decided not to stay but left immediately, leaving Maijol to represent him. One APS official informed that they also had to call Datuk Lajim Ukin and his entourage who were on the way to turn back to Beaufort as they was no point coming.

“What a waste that the expensive catered food meant for hundreds of people was not consumed,” said the official.

Alex Kandou, the co-ordinator and organizer of the launch event and who is also known to harbour ambition to be the APS/PKR candidate for Inanam, was not available for comment at press time.

When contacted, the STAR chairman for Sepanggar, Daniel John Jambun, said he was not surprised by the low turnout.

“The APS group here is very new. On my part, since I was in PKR I had worked very hard to consolidate the party’s support in Sepanggar,” he said.

“I can understand if other aspiring candidates wish to try their luck with the electorate by aligning themselves with other opposition parties, but they must be realistic.

“It would be more realistic if the APS group can work with STAR Sepanggar to defeat the BN rule in the area. In fact, it has always been my stance that it would be best for Datuk Wilfred Bumburing to work with Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for the Borneo Agenda, rather than having them competing with each other.”

by Raymond Tombung