Anwar not here to fish for MPs
Sabah is likely to be the first to move, says Jeffrey
Sabah is likely to be the first to move, says Jeffrey
KOTA KINABALU:
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Sabah and Sarawak next week is not a fishing trip”. PKR Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan yesterday told a press conference that Anwar’s visit to the two East Malaysian states on April 23 and 24, is not about wooing Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament to cross over to PKR. “Datuk Seri Anwar has several things on his itinerary but he is not here to woo Barisan Nasional Mps to cross over to PKR,” stressed Jeffrey, who is PKR Sabah and Sarawak Steering Committee chairman. Anwar, he said, will be addressing a gathering at Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang on April 23 where he will also launch a blog and endorse PKR’s commitment towards the Tambunan Declaration. The former Deputy Prime Minister would also explain to those attending about the latest developments in the five Peninsular states governed by Pakatan Rakyat. “Datuk Seri Anwar is not here to woo Sabah and Sarawak Mps but if there are among them who want to follow the winds of change, then they are welcome. “We welcome any support for change. If they cross over to PKR, it will benefit the people and Sabah,” he said. He did not deny that some BN members have contacted him with their interest to join PKR and added, “ but we do not want it to happen on this trip,”. He, however, declined to elaborate on the matter and said he had to respect the wishes of the BN leaders who had met him. “I will tell you Sabah is likely to be the first to move as the MPs were hoping to see a Federal Government that has a new approach to Sabah on several issues, especially oil royalty and problem of illegal immigrants,” he said. Meanwhile when asked to comment on the construction of the two more temporary detention centres in the State, Jeffrey pointed out that it is not the solution to the illegal immigrants problem faced by Sabah: He was of opinion that a Royal Commission of Inquiry needs to be set up to tackle the problem as well as the implementation of a new Government- to-Government approach and a new foreign workers policy. “The solution must be a win-win situation for all parties as we need foreign workers but not those who enter the State illegally,” he said.
