A Matter Of Principle

I'm getting some really mixed messages here.

The official reason given by the higher-ups over the resignation of Chong Kah Kiat, Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah is that he wanted a 'rest'.

Yet, Chong has stuck to his guns, saying he was resigning from the state Cabinet as of Monday as “a matter of principle”.

Less than a month ago, the Joint Management and Supervisory Committee of Sipadan and Ligitan turned down a second development plan to set up facilities on the island, a world famous diving location.

Chong, who was state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, had declined to disclose the reasons for the rejection and said he hoped to have a new plan ready in a few weeks.

Ah. I'm guessing one of those fleece-the-people-of-their-natural-heritage schemes ala Bakun were being set in motion and Chong just had to throw a spanner in the works.

I wonder what's the slice of the pie for a RM4.5mil clubhouse which would be progressing well except that it just inconveniently happens to scrape off 372.94sq m of the reef?

This would naturally offset a lot of potential (shall we say) income for the politicians, and being denied of this, THEY ARE LIVID. For him to step down would be, “not really a loss”.

On the contrary.

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to deduce that the deputy and his chief DO NOT get along. Chong submitted his resignation to the Yang di-Pertua Negri while Musa was away.

Ten ringgit says their disagreements were NOT limited to projects, the environment and the yet-to-be-built statue to attract tourists.

Who wouldn't want him out?

Good ole BN. If you refuse to toe the line, they get you to take a hike.