500 from BN in Sandakan cross over to PKR

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Daily Express

Sandakan: Some 500 Sabah Barisan Nasional component party members and leaders, a majority of whom were from the Sekong and Batu Sapi branches, have joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) en bloc.

The leaders included former Sekong Assemblyman Datuk Nahalan Damsal, Tamrin Bahrin, Ali Latip Taha and several Chinese community leaders representing Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Libaran and Beluran zones.

The affected branches were eight from PBS, followed by Parti Bersekutu (2) and "a substantial number" from Sekong and Kinabatangan Umno branches. The Kinabatangan "exodus" from Umno was led by Ghani Madeh.

They were welcomed into the PKR fold by party advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during its inaugural assembly at a hotel here on Saturday.

Addressing the function, Anwar expressed optimism that the party would be able to win the Sandakan seat in the next general election, with an assurance that the rights of the people here would be restored if PKR could form the next State Government.

Meanwhile, Sabah PKR Chief Awang Tengah hoped the central leadership could allow the local leadership to field candidates in all the Parliamentary and State constituencies in the State in the next general election.