Lim: Harapan leadership council should discuss Bersatu's move to Sabah

The decision of Bersatu to spread its wings to Sabah should be discussed at the Pakatan Harapan leadership council meeting, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today.

Lim, the finance minister, said that just like the admission of former Umno members into Bersatu, the decision for the party to venture into Sabah should be discussed by the council as agreed by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself.

“Let’s wait for the meeting to be held, then we will decide,” he told reporters after attending a Chinese New Year open house in his Air Itam service centre yesterday.

Yesterday, Mahathir, the Bersatu chairperson, was reported to have said that the party had agreed to open its branch in Sabah.

He said the decision was to provide an avenue for former Umno members who do not wish to join Parti Warisan Sabah.

'There was an understanding'

Separately, Sabah PKR chief Christina Liew (photo) expressed her surprise at Bersatu's decision to move into the state.

Liew said this was because there was an understanding between Mahathir and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal during the 14th general election.

"In the GE14, they (Bersatu) did not come to Sabah on the understanding that it had left it to Warisan together with PKR and the DAP.

"Suddenly they now want to come to this state, and former Umno members including elected representatives, will join Bersatu,” she told reporters in Kota Kinabalu last night.

Read more: Bersatu leader: Sabah foray to help secure state gov't in GE15

Thus Liew, who is also the Sabah deputy chief minister, said she would leave the matter to Shafie and Mahathir to discuss further.

Liew said what was certain was that Shafie was leading the state well in strengthening its financial position to implement development.

"It is through the amicable cooperation between the state government led by Warisan together with PKR, DAP and Pertubuhan Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (Upko)," she added.

She said the majority of the people in Sabah gave their support to the leadership of Shafie.  

- Bernama