The war of words between two component parties of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has now descended into name calling.

Local newspaper Daily Express reported today that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili had described fellow partner Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) as a “political bitch”.

Ongkili also accused Sapp of "persistent flirting with the opposition to bring down the government". "The worst kind of enemy is the one that is within," he said in a statement.

Rebel party Sapp had last week vowed to back an opposition’s motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

However, the emergency motion filed by Pakatan Rakyat has been shot down today by House speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

In an angry response today, Sapp labeled PBS as an “enemy within Sabah”.

The rebel party also described PBS as a federal government’s “instrument” and accused it of selling out the interests of Sabahans.

Party secretary-general Richard Yong, in a sarcastic tone, “reminded” Ongkili that PBS had always used ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ as the platform of their political struggle.

“It looks like now PBS has forgotten all about it,” he said in a statement.

Yong also expressed regret that Ongkili had resorted to insulting Sapp by calling the party a “political bitch”.

“I find it most unbecoming for a veteran politician like him to call another Sabah-based party by such name. He shouldn’t be too personal as Sapp is purely fighting for justice for Sabah and its people,” said Yong.

Still time to answer show-cause letter

Yong ticked off Ongkili for failing to resolve the problems faced by Sabah, particularly the issues of illegal immigrants as well as foreigners given ‘dubious’ citizenship, despite his many years as a minister in the federal cabinet.

“If our leaders had done their job well and the federal government had been sincere and fair towards Sabah and competent in solving issues affecting the state ... this issue of no-confidence would not have arisen,” added Yong.

The Sapp secretary-general also lambasted PBS for attacking Sapp for the party’s stand on its no-confidence move against Abdullah.

“But they were silent when Umno leaders called for the PM to step down. It clearly showed that some of Sabah political leaders holding positions in government had willingly subscribed to Kuala Lumpur’s ‘divide-and-rule’ tactic to try to neutralise Sapp’s effort to fight for the interest of the state and its people,” said Yong.

Yong told BN leaders who are anxious to see Sapp quit BN to have more patience as the party has until the end of July to answer to the show-cause letter issued by the ruling coalition.

He also condemned PBS’s information chief Johnny Mositun for offering to consider accepting Sapp deputy president Raymond Tan, who is Sabah deputy chief minister, if he becomes partyless.

According to the Sapp secretary-general, Tan had “categorically expressed his loyalty” to the rebel party and he will stay “regardless of whether it is in or out of BN”.