Hajiji: PN to consider LDP’s bid to join it
KOTA KINABALU: Perikatan Nasional (PN) will consider accepting the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after the latter expressed interest in becoming a part of the coalition.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who leads Sabah PN, said its focus was on uniting the people through the various parties that accepted the struggle of PN as well as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
“We will consider this matter... we are open to the proposal and will, of course, consider it when the time comes,” he told reporters after the launch of Sabah Maju Jaya Plan 2021-2025 here yesterday.
Founded in 1989, LDP was once a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN). The locally based party left BN a few days after the coalition lost the 2018 general election.
Since then, LDP remained silent until the 16th state election. Former party president Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, who is also a former chief minister, made a comeback and led the party in contesting 46 state seats.
LDP, however, did not win any seats, with all its candidates losing their deposits.
On Sunday , Bernama reported that the LDP supreme council had approved the party’s decision to join PN after seeing the determination of the PN government led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in solving the people’s problems, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Its president Datuk Chin Su Phin said the decision was reached in Sunday’s meeting, adding that LDP was confident in Muhyiddin’s leadership.
On Sabah Maju Jaya’s five-year plan, Hajiji reiterated his commitment to continue working to realise the changes and aspirations of the people.
“We want all quarters to understand that the ‘Sabah Maju Jaya’ direction is not a personal plan of the chief minister and state cabinet ministers. It is not the right of the GRS government or a plan for the civil servants,” he said in his speech earlier.
“The reality is, ‘Sabah Maju Jaya’ is our direction together, just as the state coat of arms is the right and property of all Sabahans.
“Indeed, the ownership comes with the responsibility to ensure that we all move in tandem to build a more developed and successful Sabah.”