Kota Kinabalu: Bersatu Sabah hailed Sabah Progressive Party’s withdrawal from Perikatan Nasional (PN) as a correct move, seeing that the party was clearly against the coalition’s aspirations in Sabah.
Bersatu Sabah Governing Body Secretary, Yunus Nurdin, said the matter was discussed in a meeting on Saturday (Dec 14).
He said Bersatu Sabah President Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee noted that SAPP’s actions and statements proved that they were not a fighting partner in the coming state election and wished them good luck.
“The meeting also discussed PN’s preparations for the elections in strengthening the electoral machinery of Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional at all levels.
“Bersatu will start discussing the distribution of seats that PN will contest along with PN’s affiliated parties in the near future,” he said in a statement.
Sabah PN consists of Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan and Malaysian Indians People Party.
SAPP President, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, earlier the same day announced the party had quit PN.
He had also proposed to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Supreme Council that the local coalition should contest all 73 seats.
Yong said that the step is crucial in upholding Sabah’s rights under the Malaysian Agreement 1963 and reflective of the people’s aspirations for a government that practises “genuine federalism”. SAPP is one of the seven components in the GRS coalition.
