PBS not part of BN and PN 'Aku Janji'

SABAH POLLS | Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will not be part of BN and Perikatan Nasional "Aku Janji" (election pledge) event tomorrow afternoon, leaving the viability of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition in question.

Promotional material for the event at The Magellan Sutera Resort in Kota Kinabalu tomorrow afternoon only contains BN and Perikatan Nasional logos.

According to the itinerary for the event, the only two local leaders slated to speak are Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin and Sabah Bersatu chief Hajiji Noor.

The duo are also slated to hand the "Aku Janji" document to Prime Minister and national PN head Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin will also provide a short closing address.

When contacted, an aide to a top PBS official said no party officers will attend the event.

These developments have thrown further doubts on the strength of PBS' relationship with BN and PN, who are all supposed to be part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition.

PBS president Maximus Ongkili is part of Muhyiddin's government in Putrajaya. Ongkili is believed to be unwell and has not been spotted on the hustings.

The party's rocky relationship with BN and PN allies was clear on nomination day when it fielded 22 candidates, of which 16 would either face BN or PN candidates, on top of the ruling coalition known as Warisan Plus.

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), a Sabah-based party and official member of the PN coalition, has accused PBS of reneging its initial promise to field only 15 candidates.

Star president Jeffrey Kitingan claimed that Muhyiddin was disappointed in PBS as well.

Six of Star's eight candidates - including Kitingan - will have to face PBS candidates during the Sept 26 elections. - Mkini