I refer to the Malaysiakini report Sapp MPs to move no-confidence vote .

The prime minister , in reacting to this announcement, called for the BN supreme council meeting to discuss Sapp's intention. Naturally, the component party leaders with the exception of Sapp showed their unstinting support for the PM.

Of course they have their own reasons for doing so. Some supported him because they are holding ministerial posts (and hence it is for personal interests); others supported him because they genuinely need him for the next round.

Yet others supported him because they have nowhere else to go to! Obviously, they roundly condemned the Sapp President for publicly announcing his party's stand on certain Sabahan issues.

Now, I am really interested in the causes which made the Sapp leader come out openly to tell the whole world why the party has lost confidence in the leadership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. And whether this open defiance was justified.

The Sapp leader told the PM the concerns of Sabahans and rightly so, for he, like other Sabahans, should speak up for his people - the Sabahans. He asked for:

a. The PM to initiate an enquiry into the illegal immigrants problem which has been an outstanding one for a long time and to solve it; this is just cause

b. The pm to increase the state’s oil royalty from 5% to 20% so that the funds could be used to help the people of Sabah who are among the poorest in the country; this is a just cause;

c. The PM to appoint Sabahan MPs to some important ministerial posts since Sabah has delivered a substantial number of MPs; this is a just cause;

There could be many other causes. The question is simple- did he have genuine reasons to say them openly after he had spoken about them in private to the PM? Since the PM was deaf to his whisperings, he had no choice except to talk loudly to the whole world about Sabahan causes.

Though his move wass construed to be ‘rude", crude and callous’ by certain quarters, the fact remains that he had made his requests in private but the PM was not listening. So, what choice did he have other than to shout from the rooftop?

He may turn out to be a lone ranger, but he has a strong case though the other Sabahan leaders dare not come to his aid when it comes to the crunch. When it comes to principles, a leader must

give up position, money, property and even freedom to take a firm stand - which he did.

I am sure the majority of ordinary Sabahans will support Yong to the hilt, come the next general elections. All the other so-called leaders will lose their pants at the next polls. He has shown his courage to stand up and be counted. Of course, some so-called leaders may shun him like the plague but the people will to flock him.

Guts is what a strong leader needs when faced with challenges. Sadly, the PM has shown his weak spot for he cringes in the face of strong critics. He could only show his power against defenceless peaceful protestors and the Hindraf leaders.

Why can't he revisit the many misdeeds done in the past and which caused untold suffering to certain people? Would he dare to review certain court cases? By all means open the floodgates and let those who wronged be drowned.

If he dares to do so, then many right-thinking Malaysians will salute him for his bravery. This will be his legacy which generation after generation of Malaysians will always remember him for.

So, back to the Sapp rebel. He has just causes for Sabahans. No one can deny it.Do not play political football and treat Sabah as a small boy. They can not only bark but can also bite back.