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KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah Umno deputy chief Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal has come out strongly to condemn political crossovers as immoral.

"Crossing over is not impossible. But what (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim is doing is immoral.

"It's the basic fundamental of democracy - the people's right to chose - that he's trying to wipe out. People have given their mandate.

"We don't buy over their people. We can afford to, but we don't," Shafie said.

Shafie's condemnation was echoed by Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek who slammed politicians who tried to persuade members of opposing parties to switch sides, labelling them as "political prostitutes".

"It is the peak of immorality and is similar to prostitution. Leaders who try to plead for crossovers are political prostitutes," he said after visiting New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad at Balai Berita yesterday.

Shabery said only those who were addicted to prostitution would use such methods to achieve political satisfaction.

He said he had heard the views of party members, including those from Sabah.

"Nobody said they wanted to jump parties."

He said Sabah MPs had issues they wanted to bring up in Parliament.

"Although their views have a certain sting, they were well received by other members and the government will pay attention," he said.

"Just because they have a strong stand on certain issues, it does not mean they are going to leave the party," said Shabery.

He agreed. "They (Sabah MPs) are raising concerns of the people on the ground.

"You can't conclude that they want to cross over just because they raise them.

"But I won't say that they won't (cross over). But my advice is they should not do that.

"How can we be sure that it will be a better world if we jump over? Is there any guarantee we'll be treated better just by promising us 20 per cent oil royalty?"

When asked about promises made by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to provide water and electricity supplies besides increasing development in Sabah, Shafie said: "When Anwar held the position of deputy prime minister and finance minister, he gave the same promises but failed to deliver or improve the situation in Balung or my constituency."

Shafie said BN members had pride and were not "cheap politicians".

"Our leaders are not swayed by money or status."

On rumours of offers of up to RM30 million being offered for BN reps to cross over, Shafie said: "That is immoral on the part of the person offering it and on the part of whoever has the intention of accepting it.

"It means they are looking at RM30 million and not the people's needs. That is not worthy of a person who was elected.

"If an MP no longer believes in the party he or she stood for, then switch parties in the next election but don't hop because someone is paying you to.

"Not being responsible in this case amounts to treachery."

On whether he could vouch for the loyalty of Umno MPs in Sabah, Shafie said: "So far, I believe in them, unless they're lying.

On the strong statements by Sabah MPs about crossovers, including that there was "no harm" in doing so, Shafie maintained that they were only raising concerns of the people on the ground.

Asked to comment on Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman's comments that there was no harm in crossing over, and Datuk Seri Ghapur Salleh's warning of the tsunami hitting Sabah next, he said: "It's not a question of betrayal but a question of the trust the people have given you.

"When I stood as a BN candidate, I convinced voters that BN is the right platform to fight for development, and the people voted for it.

"Voters believed that BN can deliver, but when what is promised is not delivered... It's just a reflection of sentiments on the ground."

On Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee's statement that something must be done before September or BN faced the risk of crossovers, he said this reflected the views from the ground.

"Come to Sabah and listen to the ordinary folk. They're asking for more development."

Questioned why the talk revolved around crossovers if the complaints were about development, Shafie said: "Because Anwar is the one raising it, the one trying to woo BN MPs over."

Sabahans running out of patience

Sabah Umno deputy chief Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal showed his trademark caution in an interview about the feelings of Sabahans being 'sidelined' in national development despite the state Barisan Nasional's stellar performance in the elections. The unity, culture, arts and heritage minister says he does not want to be seen as an agitator but concedes that Sabahans have waited a long time to have requests fulfilled. He speaks to FARRAH NAZ KARIM and DEBORAH LOH.

Q: Do you feel that your hands are tied in your new portfolio?

A: Not really, I just have a limited scope. I can't be asking other ministers to do things for Sabah.

Q: The call to give Sabah MPs 'relevant' ministries implies ministers from other states won't do as well?

A: When I was deputy defence minister, I brought a naval base to my hometown. It helped the people of Semporna by reducing the number of pirate attacks and Abu Sayyaf cases. I'm not saying ministers should only serve their own constituency. We may be a minister but we still represent our state. I don't blame Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for developing Langkawi. It's his home state.

Q: If the Works Ministry or Rural and Regional Development Ministry was headed by Sabah ministers, what do you expect from them?

A: Infrastructure should be enhanced. This is not to say other ministers don't know what's happening, but I know my area better than anybody else. I know the roads they need and where they need help most.

Q: So you agree with (Kalabakan MP) Datuk Seri Ghapur Salleh's call for a cabinet reshuffle with more Sabah ministers in senior posts?

A: Umno Sabah raised the demand in the meeting they had with the PM. It's not Ghapur's view alone. It was raised earlier.

Q: You agree with the call?

A: I can't disagree because I raised it myself in an Umno supreme council meeting.

Q: When Sabah submitted its recommendation for cabinet posts, what was the expectations?

A: I don't know who submitted the list and I didn't know I would be here (in his present ministry). It's the prime minister's prerogative.

Q: If the number and seniority of cabinet posts are not enough, what should be?

A: It's not just the number. It's about placements in the proper ministry. You can have a large number of Sabah ministers but if the ministry is irrelevant to Sabah...

Q: You think that some states which BN lost got a better deal than Sabah?

A: It's the prime minister's prerogative. We just feel that if you work hard and you deliver, you should be rewarded.

Q: Do you think the poverty-eradication target for 2010 can be achieved in Sabah?

A: No, I don't think so.

Q: The Sabah chief minister has said the government will deliver, but in its own time. There are calls now to speed things up.

A: The pressure is strong on the ground. The public are asking: why are blackouts so frequent when we are the biggest producer of natural gas in the country?

Q: If you're unhappy with your post, why didn't you reject it like Ghapur (who was initially appointed deputy natural resources and environment minister)?

A: It is better for me to become a bridge to facilitate development. What good can I do if I'm out of the cabinet? I could make people happy by resigning, but at end of the day, what support will they have? But if Sabah ministers are given prominent posts where they can deliver, the people will not make a fuss.

Q: Some of your BN counterparts from the peninsula are saying Sabah should be grateful for what it has.

A: In 1999, we delivered. In 2004, we delivered. Again in 2008, we delivered. So when do we speak up? After we lose the state or our seats? Kinabatangan (Datuk Bung Mokhtar) and Ghapur themselves have raised issues about infrastructure many times before, so why is this suddenly seen in the context of crossovers? The opposition won't get their numbers in Sabah alone. Anwar is also meeting MPs in the peninsula.

Q: What will happen if changes for Sabah don't start taking place soon?

A: Simple. When the next election comes, the people will decide. We won't be in the position to convince them because they have been patient. I'm the unity minister and I don't want to be one who incites things. I pray to God that MPs won't jump. But I don't want to downplay this issue either.

Q: Will Sabah Umno make a go for a higher post in the Umno elections?

A: We're still deciding. We will assess our support.

Q: You say you are a BN believer but what's the limit to your patience?

A: My constituents question me, especially about electricity supply. I can't supply them electricity so I buy them generators. I have to come up with my own solutions. Whatever I do, I don't want to take any actions that may cause disharmony in the country.

'Opposition offered us millions to switch camps'

KUALA LUMPUR: Millions of ringgit have allegedly been offered to tempt Barisan Nasional MPs from Sabah to join the opposition.

Sabah backbenchers yesterday said they were approached with incentives of cash and positions to jump ship, as rumours swirled in Dewan Rakyat of impending defections to the Pakatan Rakyat camp.

The rumoured amounts ranged from RM5 million to RM30 million for each MP - more if he brings others with him.

Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said he was approached by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders after the general election and enticed to abandon BN.

Talk of crossovers intensified after the formation of the cabinet in March, and has been kept at fever pitch by the PKR leadership ever since.

"There was a discussion but it did not go to the extent of money being offered," Bung Mokhtar said.

"Maybe because I did not show much interest from the outset that they did not go to the next stage of offering me money," said the Kinabatanagan Umno division chief.

Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan (BN-Silam) was lured not just with money but the prospect of "making history in creating a new Malaysia".

"They made it sound like it was some sort of national duty," he said.

He voiced his displeasure in the House while debating the Royal Address on Tuesday evening.

"I will say that a certain amount of money was offered," he said.

Pressed further on the amount, he said: "If I take it, I will be wealthy for two or three generations."

Abdul Rahman said a cabinet post was also thrown in as part of the deal for him to leave BN. He denied he would switch sides, saying to do so would go against his stand against corruption.

Abdul Rahman said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was looking into the needs of the grassroots in Sabah and Sarawak.

"You have to give time for all this to be looked into and implemented," he said.

Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh who, along with Kinamis MP Datuk Anifah Aman, had been at the centre of defection rumours due to his vocal discontent in the Dewan, said he did not see what the big deal was about BN MPs jumping ship.

"They can jump if they are not satisfied but I won't jump. If I am not happy, I will leave BN and form my own party because the party that we jump to may question us again.

"We have to voice out what is necessary. Yes, I did mention that Sabah and Sarawak contributed 54 seats and if it was not because of us, BN would have lost but no one should question our credibility or sincerity because of this.

"If we keep quiet, the people of Sabah will start pressuring us to quit the party," he said.

Ghapur refused to comment on rumours that he had been offered RM30 million.

Anifah was equally evasive about the opposition's offers.

"The offers are not important. What is important are the interests of the Sabah people," he said.

The former deputy minister was upset that his call for the federal government to pay more attention to Sabah was taken out of context.

"If we can't raise our issues and grouses in Parliament, then where else can we go?"

Both Ghapur and Anifah had declined deputy minister's posts two months ago.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) said the party's doors were open to all MPs but denied monetary rewards were involved.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, however, attributed the rumours and allegations of defections to Anwar.

"I was told that they were going to form a new government today but here I am still doing my duties as the education minister.

"We are moving forward by reinventing BN and Umno while they have been moving the dates on which they would be forming a new government."

He said the people were tired of Anwar's boasting of being the prime minister-in-waiting.

"I do not deny that things are not perfect in Sabah and Sarawak but we spent billions to bring development to both states and we are trying hard to address the issues," he said.

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