Yong shows up at Gaya Street

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee, one of the most watched men, if not the most, in Malaysia right now made a public appearance at Kota Kinabalu's famous weekly flea market or bazaar at Gaya Street this morning.

His arrival immediately caused a stir as the crowd realised his presence. The former Chief Minister, accompanied by his wife became celebrity of sorts after his arrival, with people moving up to him and shake his hands. Most, if not all, wished him well while others asked that a photograph be taken with him and his wife. He then joined his party officials at SAPP's impromptu or mobile service counter at the five-foot-way in front of a shop to look into requests for assistance from the public (pix above). SAPP has maintained the popular counter for more than 10 years.

Yong's showing-up at the Gaya street today was his second public apperance since dropping a bombshell a few days ago that his two party MPs will table or support a motion on vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister in the Malaysian Parliament next week. Yesterday, a day after securing the SAPP supreme council's endorsement of his bombshell, he addressed a crowd comprising mostly party members at Likas, his former constituency.

It was learnt that this afternoon Yong left for Sandakan to continue his 'roadshow' which he said will be held all over Sabah to explain the party's stand. How successful his roashow there will be is eagerly awaited as Sandakan is where 2 of SAPP's 4 State Legislative Assemblymen come from. The duo, party deputy president Raymond Tan and youth chief Au Kam Wah, had voiced opposition to SAPP's plan to go ahead with the motion at the party's supreme council meeting Friday. A national newspaper yesterday described the duo's opposition as the "Sadakan Rebellion".

Yong's presence at Gaya Street this morning and his leaving for Sandakan this afternoon put paid to rumours that the lawyer-turned politician was in Kuala Lumpur to meet up with de facto Malaysin opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to plan their strategy ahead of the Parliament meeting beginning Monday.

Yong and wife in a cordial conversation with a member of the public at Gaya street. The man, a Kadzandusun, was overheard saying to Yong: "Very Good, Datuk", referring to SAPP's move and Yong's bravery. (No BN component party has ever dared to speak about a motion of no confidence on the Prime Minister let alone actually tabling it in Parliament.)

Yong and wife (partly hidden) obliging a request from a mother and her daughter for a photograph at Gaya Street this morning.