PBRS leaves Sabah BN, third party to cross over

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) is the third Sabah Barisan Nasional component party to leave the coalition.

Its president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (pic) said on Friday (May 11) that the party decided to quit Barisan about the same time as its former coalition counterpart Upko, and has applied to become a member of Pakatan Harapan.

He said the party did not make the announcement public immediately because they were waiting for the green light from its supreme council.

“We are leaving Barisan because if we stayed, we would not be able to serve our people in the best way possible,” he said.

“By joining Pakatan, we can provide what we promised to the rakyat.”

Kurup said that there should not be any problem with PBRS’ application.

“I have spoken to the top leadership of Pakatan and they have said that we are most welcome’,” he added.

As such, the party will also be working closely with Parti Warisan Sabah, which had partnered with Pakatan in the state.

“We will pay a visit to Warisan, maybe in a couple of days,” he said.

In the recently-concluded elections, PBRS won the Sook state seat through its candidate Ellron Alfred Angin while Kurup’s son, Arthur won the Pensiangan federal seat.

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) was the first component party to quit Barisan on Thursday followed by the Liberal Democratic Party Friday.