[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 16 Aug 1999
Time: 00:43:35
Remote User: -
PBS 'open to electoral understanding'
KOTA KINABALU: Opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili said yesterday that they were prepared to discuss an electoral understanding with the national opposition coalition to avoid the splitting of votes.
However, he said the party was still keen on its idea that the 20 parliamentary seats in Sabah and one in Labuan be contested by PBS and other local-based opposition parties.
"Its high time we looked at each other's weaknesses and strengths and see how best to avoid a split in opposition votes," he said.
Dr Maximus said the PBS was not interested in entering the fray in the peninsula and was concentrating on Sabah and Labuan for the coming general election.
He said it was important that an electoral understanding be reached with other opposition parties to avoid a split in votes as in the state elections where at least 10 state seats were lost because of this.
It is learnt that the supreme council asked Dr Maximus, party secretary general Radin Malleh and party vice-presidents Dr Yee Moh Chai and Datin Jamilah Sulaiman to hold discussions with Keadilan, PAS and DAP.
Dr Maximus said that informal discussions at different levels with Keadilan and other parties have been going on over the past few months.
"We have been talking and assessing all the while," he said.