Azmin, Sabah parties cited as reasons for PN launch cancellation

The launch of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the logo it planned to use in the Sabah state election has been cancelled.

A proposed schedule for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Sabah this weekend originally scheduled the launch for 2pm today.

However, this was not in the schedule released by the Prime Minister's Office to the media last night.

Both Malay Mail and The Malaysian Insight cited sources as confirming the matter.

This came after MIC pulled out of joining PN, while PAS also said that it was willing to use the BN logo in Sabah instead.

According to the reports, two factors have become stumbling blocks to the launch today.

One was tensions between Umno and Bersatu, especially in seat negotiations with the latter trying to accommodate Senior Minister Azmin Ali's faction.

Azmin's faction was reportedly unable to reach a middle ground on cooperation.

Meanwhile, the cancellation was also attributed to the fact that Sabah parties were still in talks to join PN.

Previously BN secretary-general Annuar Musa was cited as saying the coalition would use the "scales" logo in the Sabah polls as that is what voters in the Borneo state were familiar with.

PN was slated to have at least five members, namely Bersatu, PAS, MIC, and Sabah's Star and SAPP.

However, MIC has pulled out of PN, again citing Azmin as a reason. 

"Specifically, MIC can't shake hands with Azmin. He always tries to control others. And abandons other friends in the PN pact," a source had told Malaysiakini. - Mkini