PKR Sabah finalising election manifesto — Christina

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Keadilan Sabah (PKR) Sabah is in the process of finalizing its election manifesto, which among others, promises the State with full autonomy.

PKR Sabah chairman Christina Liew said the party president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had spoken specifically on the rights of Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) in her policy speech in the party congress on May 21.

She said Wan Azizah in her policy speech had expressed PKR and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) commitment to recognize Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia as equal partners if given the mandate to form the Federal Government.

Liew said the PKR headquarters was very serious about enhancing autonomy in Sabah and Sarawak in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as well as to review the terms and conditions specified in MA63 if given the mandate.

If given the mandate, she said Sabah and Sarawak would not only have administrative autonomy, but also beyond that to ensure good governance, sustainable development, economy and social justice in both states, as per Wan Azizah’s policy speech.

She said Wan Azizah’s policy speech would be incorporated in the manifestoes at both the federal and state levels for the coming election.

“We will print the manifesto with respect to the rights and autonomy of Sabah in black and white and distribute it to the people.

“It is basically a social contract between PKR and the people of Sabah,” she said in a press conference here yesterday.

Liew also promised to set up the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education in Sabah if the opposition coalition formed the government.

She further reiterated her vow to resign as the chairman of PKR Sabah if the party failed to bring development such as access road and clean water supply to the interior within three years after being given the mandate.

She also said the PKR headquarters had given power to the state leadership to nominate its candidates.

On another note, Liew said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee should check the facts before accusing PKR of being irresponsible for still holding positions in the PASled Kelantan administration despite having cut ties with the Islamic party, while PAS leaders still maintain their positions in Selangor.

She said Wan Azizah had given her directive to PKR leaders in Kelantan to resign from all positions in the state.

“As for the Selangor government, the three PAS exco members are meeting with the Menteri Besar on their positions. It is up to the government of Selangor how they will deal with the issue.

“We believe in the Menteri Besar’s able leadership to steer through the issues in Selangor,” she said.

Yong recently criticized the opposition parties in West Malaysia for not having the principle and honour as they were unable to let go of their government posts even after their parties had gone separate ways.

He said PKR members in Kelantan could not bring themselves to resign from their posts.

“And in Selangor, PAS members are trying to hang on. Democratic Action Party (DAP) which is condemning PAS has been embracing PAS leaders in the Selangor government,” he said.