Matnor (4th left, assisted by his granddaughter), in Papar. On 3rd left is Yong. From the right are Edward Dagul and Richard Yong. From the left are Christina and Richard Valintinus.
PAPAR: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) gained more than 100 new members at a function in Kg Rampazan here recently.
On hand to receive them was SAPP president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, a Nominated State Assemblyman and former Chief Minister.
Present was Party Advisor Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Mohd Noor Mansoor, popularly known as Matnor. Matnor was Sabah Finance Minister from 1976 to 1985 during the Berjaya reign.
He was Berjaya secretary-general until 1985 when he replaced Tan Sri Harris Salleh who did not seek reelection as president.
It was a nostalgic trip for Matnor as he was Papar Assemblyman during the Berjaya era.
Many villagers remember him as the Finance Minister who approved $1 million for the construction of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Limbahau.
He even served as Chairman of the Church Fund-Raising Committee.
“Where else can you find a Muslim Minister like that?” asked a villager.
Matnor took a back seat from politics after Berjaya was disbanded sometime between the late 80s and early 90s.
He somehow got involved in SAPP after the party quite BN in 2008.
Without hesitation, SAPP made him party Advisor.
Also at the function was SAPP deputy president Datuk Richard Yong who is Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly.
Another SAPP deputy president Datuk Edward Dagul was also present.
He is from the Papar area and is the Chairman of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort.
Among the new members were a husband and wife team of Richard and Christina Valintinus.
Richard is the secretary-general of the Sabah Sino-KDM Association and is active in the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kota Kinabalu.
Richard said he decided to join SAPP because of the party’s struggle and principles including the MA63, the 40%, the oil royalty, Sabah Day and even the return of Labuan to Sabah.
“Further more, I am impressed by the leadership of Yong and Matnor. In any case, SAPP is part of GRS under the dynamic leadership of Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor which I also support, he added.
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