KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR is focused on retaining its two existing state seats, Api-Api and Inanam, in the upcoming state election.
“There is no question about it. We want to retain these two seats. Other political parties may want it too, but we will defend our decision,” said its newly appointed chief, Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
The Deputy Higher Education Minister said they also have other state seats in mind.
In the last election, in addition to Api-Api and Inanam, Sabah PKR contested five other seats: Tempasuk, Tamparuli, Matunggng, Klias, and Sook.
Mustapha also hinted at contesting a seat in the 17th state election.
The Sepanggar MP, rumoured to be eyeing the Karambunai seat, said, “Many have asked for me to contest, and I will consider it. We will choose a ‘safe’ seat (for Mustapha). We (Sabah PKR) will deliberate on this more.”
When asked about the party’s direction leading up to the state election, whether it would continue aligning with the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government or side with the central party’s comfortable working relationship with Barisan Nasional, Mustapha said they would “talk about it when we cross the bridge.”
“Most importantly, now we need to strengthen the state government that we are part of, and we will ensure that our assemblymen support the Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor) until the term ends.
“Currently, the relationship is good, and we want political stability in Sabah. We want to avoid changing the chief minister every two years because such instability would only hurt the people.
“After the dissolution, we will decide who our strategic partner will be,” he told the media on Monday (July 22) at a press conference to announce the first-ever Himpunan Perdana Rakyat Keadilan Sabah. The event is scheduled to take place at the Sabah International Convention Centre here on Sunday (Aug 4).
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had confirmed his attendance. He would be one of the 10 speakers addressing issues about infrastructure, poverty, youth unemployment, low average achievement in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (STEM) among Sabah students, and matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the event, which aims to unite, show solidarity, and renew their commitment to the country's progress and development.
