SAPP welcomes PKR offer of seats
SAPP has reaffirmed its support for Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister if the opposition wrests Putrajaya in the 13th general election.
(FMT) — Sabah opposition party, SAPP said today it would adjust its preparations for the 13th general election widely expected to be in June following a move by PKR to accommodate independent local parties.
The party headed by former chief minister Yong Teck Lee said it would reciprocate the recent goodwill offer by PKR de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim, to stand down in some of the seats that were contested by PKR in previous general elections.
Anwar made the offer during a press conference held here on Saturday before returning to Kuala Lumpur saying he wanted to achieve a one-to-one fight against the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in the coming elections.
“Although Anwar positively named SAPP, SAPP is nevertheless conscious of the fact that Anwar also referred to other opposition parties and politicians. SAPP is hopeful that co-operation with other parties, like STAR, will strengthen the opposition.
“There are also other experienced leaders who are still in the BN whose departure from the BN will contribute towards the eventual defeat of the BN at the coming general elections,” said Yong.
The former chief minister noted that ever since leaving the BN coalition on Sept 17, 2008, SAPP had joined nationwide efforts to topple the BN government.
“In SAPP’s fight for Sabah autonomy and the solution to Sabah issues at both the state and federal levels, SAPP reaffirms our support to Anwar Ibrahim as incoming Prime Minister,” he reiterated.
He also reaffirmed the continuation of the spirit of the gentleman’s agreement between SAPP and PKR leaders achieved in October 2010 prior to the Batu Sapi by-election.
He said that although PKR and SAPP contested in a three-corner fight (against the BN) at Batu Sapi, the agreement was that the common enemy is the BN.
“Therefore, at Batu Sapi, SAPP and PKR campaigned against the BN and not against each other. This trust between the two parties was not breached during and after the by-election.
“The Batu Sapi experience hence became a reference point in SAPP’s plans for the general election,” he said.
