BN's Balung rep says switching to PKR

Balung state assemblyperson Osman Jamal said he would now champion the interests of the people on a PKR platform.

Osman, who had won the seat on a BN ticket, said he had sent a membership application online to PKR after a meeting with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He said that before being sworn in he had expressed his support for Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal as the chief minister.

His PKR membership application is subject to the approval of the central leadership council, he told reporters at his Aidilfitri open house in Tawau today.

Osman said that after he decided to join PKR, about 2,000 Umno members and others in Balung had followed in his footsteps.

“I informed Anwar that I will strengthen PKR in Sabah, especially in Balung,” he said and expressed confidence that he would be able to draw about 4,000 new members for PKR soon and targeted to achieve a membership of 20,000 by the end of this year.

- Bernama