PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar delivering her speech during the launch of the party’s election machinery for the Gum Gum and Karamunting state seats in Sandakan.
SANDAKAN: PKR is making its pitch to Sabah voters with a promise of local candidates, working representatives, and a focus on solving long-standing problems rather than playing up toxic politics.
PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar said Sabahans had endured unfinished roads, recurring water supply shortages, limited education opportunities and unresolved citizenship issues for too long, and deserved leaders who could deliver.
“Hence, we want the best to be put forward, we don’t want flawed assumptions, especially when we are talking about toxic efforts, to provoke further, not to find solutions. Sabah from the very beginning has been an inspiration for many of us from the peninsula in terms of unity, inclusivity, with various communities always coming together. So that is my intention,” she said.
Nurul Izzah said this during the launch of PKR’s election machinery for the Gum Gum and Karamunting state seats at Hotel Sanbay here on Friday (Sept 12).
She assured that all of PKR’s candidates in Sabah would be "anak jati", emphasising that the party’s presence in the state was not just about contesting elections but about providing continuous service to the people.
Nurul Izzah also brought along leaders from PKR- and Pakatan Harapan-led states to speak, saying this was to demonstrate that the party’s representatives were “working YBs”.
She stressed that PKR did not tolerate non-performing representatives and wanted Sabah voters to know they would have YBs who would turn up and deliver.
Her message also addressed education and jobs, stating that young Sabahans should not have to migrate to the peninsula just to pursue studies or find employment, while parents sought safer schools free from bullying. She also said small traders still faced hurdles in starting businesses due to poor infrastructure and accessibility.
On citizenship, she noted that many children continued to be denied access to schools and hospitals, but pointed to discussions between Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution and the Chief Minister in July as proof of the government’s commitment to finding long-term solutions.
She reminded voters that political power ultimately came from the people.
“Without the rakyat, without the voters, who can be a YB, who can be a minister, who can be a leader?” she said.
Nurul Izzah added that the Madani government had, for the first time, directed larger allocations to Sabah, and stressed the need for visionary leadership within Pakatan to ensure the state’s voice remained central in shaping development.
Among those who joined her in Sandakan were Pahang exco member Sim Chon Siang, Negeri Sembilan exco member Tengku Zamrah Tengku Sulaiman, and Perak exco member Mohd Azlan Helmi, all of whom spoke to highlight PKR’s track record in their respective states.
Her stop in Sandakan forms part of PKR’s East Coast jelajah, which will continue in Segama (Lahad Datu) and Merotai (Tawau) on Saturday (Sept 13), before moving on to Sebatik in Tawau on Sunday (Sept 14).
