Dr Wan Azizah urges Sabah, Sarawak BN MPs to form new coalition

Two days after the Sabah State Assembly passed a resolution banning Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar from entering the state, her mother Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today urged Sabah and Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) members of Parliament to resign and form a new political coalition.

Using the excuse of championing the aspirations of the people, the PKR president claimed that her party was ready to work with the coalition and BN for the good of the people in both states.

"Do not forgo the chance to really champion the people's aspirations and to transform it into reality if the 47 Sabah and Sarawak MPs leave BN and form a new coalition," she said in her policy speech as PKR President at the party's 11th Annual National Congress here Saturday.

On Thursday, the Sabah State Assembly passed a resolution to ban two PKR Vice Presidents, Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua from entering the state following the spread of photographs of Nurul Izzah meeting Jacel H.Kiram, the daughter of the former leader of the Sulu terrorist group, the later Jamalul Kiram III.

Forty-seven Sabah assemblymen supported the special resolution under Standing Order 31 (3), three assemblymen abstained while five opposition assemblymen from PKR and DAP left the assembly before voting began.

Meanwhile, PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali said the party was always willing to discuss collaborations with BN if a new political coalition was formed in Sabah and Sarawak.

According to the Selangor Menteri Besar Selangor, the discussions should cover all areas especially the economy, security and education.

Asked on the distribution of seats for the Sarawak State Election next year, Azmin said he did not discount the possibility of a clash of candidates with Pakatan Harapan.

Kelantan PKR representative Dr Mohd Hafidz Ridza when debating the policy speech of the PKR president, insisted that PAS increase the allocation of seats for PKR in Kelantan for the next general election.

This, he said, was because the party had successfully proven that it had its own election machinery and the best candidates to field.

A representative from Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, Romli Ishak raised the issue of the delegates' attitude during the party's annual congress this year which he said lacked enthusiasm, reflecting a lack of confidence in the PKR's struggle.