DAP to skip Bersatu’s launch

Party mourning death of state chairman

KOTA KINABALU: Amid an air of disquiet among its partners, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia is set to set foot in Sabah tomorrow.

Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is scheduled to launch the state chapter at the Penampang International Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC).

Sulaman assemblyman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, who is widely tipped to be Sabah Bersatu chairman, is expecting 30,000 supporters at the ITCC complex.

Bersatu’s partners in Pakatan Harapan – DAP, PKR and Amanah – as well as Pakatanfriendly Parti Warisan Sabah led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, have all been invited for the launch.

Except for Sabah DAP, which officially turned down the invite because the party is still mourning the death of state DAP chairman Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, the leaders of other coalition parties have yet to confirm their attendance.

Sabah DAP secretary Chan Foong Hin said he had written in to Hajiji to inform him that the party would not be attending as they felt the launch was a celebration.

Leaders of Warisan, Sabah DAP and Sabah PKR initially urged Bersatu to keep to a pre-general election agreement not to set up in Sabah. But they have since stayed silent following Bersatu’s decision.

Bersatu’s entry into Sabah is to give full-support to the state government .

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Dr Mahathir had reiterated that the entry to Sabah was to give full support to the Warisan-led state government and has said that they were not planning to overthrow the state government.

Bersatu will immediately have eight assemblymen (including Hajiji and Karanaan assemblyman Datuk Masidi Manjun) and five MPs (four whom are already members), making it the second largest partner in the state government.

Shafie has yet to indicate how the Bersatu members will be accommodated in his state government although Bersatu members have signalled that they will unlikely seek any positions within the state government.

Amid the changing political landscape in Sabah, all eyes will be on the reaction of leaders from the different parties as former Sabah Umno leaders, now with Bersatu, joined the ranks of the government which they had fought tooth and nail against in the elections.