Azizah: Darrel discussed quitting
Published on: Saturday, September 24, 2016
PETALING JAYA: PKR has accepted Penampang MP Darrell Leiking's decision to join Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal's new Sabah-based party.In a statement, PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that she had met Leiking to discuss his political future. "He informed us that he will join a local political party that would be united in its efforts to uphold the agenda of the Reformasi (reform) movement and justice," she said.
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Wan Azizah said PKR accepted the decision due to Leiking's commitment to oppose Barisan Nasional."We believe, with winds of change, many more will jointly in the Reformasi struggle," she added.She added that PKR was eager to unite all political parties and non-governmental organisations eager to challenge Barisan at the next general election.On Thursday, Leiking and former Sulabayan Umno assemblyman Datuk Jaujan Sambakong were present at the Registrar of Societies (ROS) building in Putrajaya to discuss the takeover of a Sabah-based party with Shafie and to change its name and logo.
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Shafie, who is also Semporna MP, declined to reveal which party they were taking over and its proposed new name.Meanwhile, the resignation of Darell from PKR is not a sign that the party is crumbling in Sabah, said Tian Chua.
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The PKR vice-president said Leiking's resignation was a personal choice and the party would continue working with other Sabah-based Opposition parties, including Leiking's new party."Sabahans need a strong, local voice and he (Leiking) believes that he wanted to concentrate on Sabah-based politics rather than national politics," said Chua.Moyog PKR assemblyman Terence Siambun is also said to soon follow suit, dealing another blow to PKR in Sabah.But Chua, who is also Batu MP, believed that no more leaders are expected to resign."I think Shafie will adopt some formula. Some of the leaders will probably be in his party and some of us will be with our party, so we have to work it out," he said.He said the formula was to forge cooperation with other Opposition parties in Sabah and Sarawak to go against Barisan Nasional. It has always been a necessity to have a local element, so we welcome cooperation with local parties," he said.Shafie had said he wanted to take over a Sabah-based party to challenge BN.The Semporna MP said he expect the takeover to be a straight forward process, compared to setting up a brand new party".Shafie said he decided to head a new party rather than join former Umno leaders Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who registered Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) earlier this month."Pribumi is national-based. Our party is more Sabah-based. I'm still the Semporna MP, and I intend to defend my seat," he said.When asked if his party will join opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, Shafie was non-committal.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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