Tian Chua: PKR not falling apart in Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR: The resignation of Penampang MP Darell Leiking from PKR is not a sign that the party is crumbling in Sabah, says Tian Chua.

The PKR vice-president said Leiking's resignation was a personal choice and the party would continue working with other Sabah-based Opposition parties, including Leiking's new party.

"Sabahans need a strong, local voice and he (Leiking) believes that he wanted to concentrate on Sabah-based politics rather than national politics," said Chua when met by reporters here on Thursday.

It was earlier reported that Leiking, the sole federal lawmaker from PKR in Sabah, had quit the party to join former Umno vice-president Datuk Shafie's new Sabah-based party.

He said he would team up with Shafie and other Sabah Opposition leaders.

Moyog PKR assemblyman Terence Siambun is also said to have followed suit, dealing another blow to the party in Sabah.

But Chua, who is also Batu MP, believed that no more leaders are expected to resign.

"I think Shafie will adopt some formula. Some of the leaders will probably be in his party and some of us will be with our party, so we have to work it out," he said.

He said the formula was to forge cooperation with other Opposition parties in Sabah and Sarawak to go against Barisan Nasional.

"It has always been a necessity to have a local element, so we welcome cooperation with local parties," he said.

However, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Azwar was coy when approached by the press.

She said party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would issue a media statement on the matter.