Anwar confirms talks with Sabah BN leaders

Online media reports have been repeatedly stating for several days now that several Sabah BN leaders would be joining the PKR.

KOTA KINABALU: PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim confirmed here this evening that the party had been in communication with some Barisan Nasional leaders from Sabah who are said to be on the verge of leaving the ruling coalition.

“Of course we have been in communication with many people including some of those people mentioned,” he said when asked to comment on reports that prominent leaders now in Umno and at least one other BN coalition party, UPKO, would be joining PKR.

Anwar’s arrival here this afternoon was delayed after his flight to the state capital was diverted to Labuan due to bad weather.

The delay caused him to miss a 3pm function in Kota Belud which he had been scheduled to attend together with Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing, one of those who has been vocal about the ruling coalition’s shoddy treatment of Sabah and is speculated to be in two minds about remaining in his party.

Anwar, when met at the airport, said the question of Bumburing’s status and if he would be joining PKR was best put to the MP himself.

He cautiously limited himself to adding that there had been “greater awareness in Sabah over the last few years” and that the people were being more critical.

“This (awareness and criticism) reflect not only on the failure of the state government of Sabah but also the national leadership … that no matter what, the present leadership must not be supported at all cost.

“You must accept the stark reality that Sabah and Sabahans are ready for change,” he said.

Online media reports have been repeatedly stating for several days now that several Sabah BN leaders would be joining the PKR and that Anwar would most likely be accepting them during his visit to Sabah this weekend.

Among them were Bumburing and Beaufort MP Lajim Ukim. Both could not be contacted for comment.

Other BN leaders named as possibly leaving the BN are former Sabah chief minister Osu Sukam, Upko vice-president Senator Maijol Mahap, former Banggi assemblyman Amir Kahar Mustapha, former federal minister Kasitah Gaddam and Upko Sepanggar divison chief Steven Kutai.