KOTA KINABALU:
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) have affirmed their undivided support to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to helm the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the country. LDP President Datuk VK Liew said the party would stay loyal to the BN’s leading man as it had been since the party was admitted into the coalition in 1992. “LDP has stood alongside BN through thick and thin since day one and now we have proven ourselves in this election and LDP has a wide range of support from the people. “It is perhaps appropriate that due consideration be given to our winners who are all qualified to be in both the state and federal cabinets,” Liew told Bernama yesterday. PBRS also declared its undivided support for Abdullah to continue leading the BN. Its President, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, said the country had been proud of Abdullah’s leadership over the past five years since he took over the reins from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad in 2003. “Notwithstanding that the recent election result highlighted many issues that need to be addressed, we in PBRS and as a member of the BN wish to affirm that we will be behind the Prime Minister and to offer our services to Datuk Seri in his new administration. “The commitment and loyalty of PBRS to the BN under the leadership of Datuk Seri is evident in its history and PBRS will continue to do so now and in the future. PBRS is ready to share in Dato’ Seri’s responsibility of administering our country and bringing it to greater heights,” he said in a statement yesterday. Kurup is one of the two PBRS members who won seats in Sabah during the 12th General Election on Saturday, with the party president taking the Pensiangan parliamentary seat uncontested. The Sook State seat, which he previously held in the past term, was won by party deputy president Datuk Ellron Angin. Kurup’s victory however was marred by violent protests at the nomination centre in Nabawan on nomination day on Feb 24, when he was punched in the head as he was about to leave following discontent over the nomination proceedings.
