Eyebrows raised over photo
Anwar pic with Sabah opposition leaders stirring social media
KOTA KINABALU: A picture of a meeting between PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and six senior Sabah opposition leaders is stirring the social media with speculations of new alignments and allegiance in the state.
Anwar is seen in a group photo with former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman (Kimanis); Parti Solidariti Tahnah AirKu president Datuk Dr Jeffery Kitingan (Keningau) and Parti Bersatu Sabah acting president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (Kota Marudu).
Others are Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Arthur Kurup (Pensiangan) and a Sabah Umno leader Datuk Zakariah Edris (Libaran).
The picture was apparently taken after the Sabah independent MPs met with Anwar at his office in Petaling Jaya on Thursday.
There is little detail coming out about the meeting with Anwar but this is raising eyebrows among Sabah’s political circles amid talks of reshaping Sabah’s political alliance with the ruling federal government in the aftermath of the May 9 election.
When asked about the meeting Dr Jeffrey said that it was a courtesy call.
“We just paid a courtesy call and to congratulate him on his Port Dickson by-election victory... that’s all. We represent the independent parliamentarians,” said Dr Jeffrey.
Asked if they spoke to Anwar about the plans to set up Gabungan Bersatu Sabah that would include PBS, Sabah STAR and Umno elected representatives, Dr Jeffrey said there were no such discussions.
“Well, we briefed Anwar, on our concerns
in Sabah, especially on security and Imm13 issue (immigration passes given to Filipino refugees who fled to Sabah in the early 1970s). Hopefully, he listened,” added Dr Jeffrey.
Dr Jeffrey insisted that there was nothing political but mainly state issues discussed while other leaders including Anifah and Dr Maximus could not be reached for comments on the meeting.
Anifah, who last month left Umno to become independent MP and has said he would support the Pakatan government on state rights, is widely seen as looking at forming a new party that will work with the proposed Sabah based coalition GBS.
Remnant Sabah Umno elected representatives, who have also declared that Sabah Barisan remains only on paper, are also working towards a coalition under GBS.
If the new opposition coalition materialises it will be the main opposition to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Parti Warisan Sabah and its coalition partners DAP, PKR and UPKO.
Political sources in both camps maintain that the situation is still fluid as negotiations were on-going with some of the remaining elected representatives not keen with GBS looking at Warisan, PKR and other parties as their choice.