PBS To Scrutinise Leaders Attending PKR Gathering

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan said party members, including former assemblymen, are free to exercise their democratic rights to attend political gatherings.

However, PBS would see whether such a move was consistent with the spirit of the party as one of the Barisan Nasional (BN) components if the gathering was organised by the opposition, he said.

"Of course, everybody is free to attend gatherings in a democratic country but they should bear in mind that the interest of the party must always be preserved.

"We will only take action if they clearly breach the party's constitution," he told reporters after attending former chief minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak's Aidilfitri Open House in Likas last night.

Pairin, who is Deputy Chief Minister, was asked to comment on the presence of two former PBS assemblymen at a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) gathering. Former Tamparuli assemblyman Edward Linggu and former Kundasang assemblyman Karim Adam were seen attending a Sabah PKR gathering in Tambunan recently which was attended by PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

On the opposition's claims that there was a lack of development in the state, Pairin said every assemblyman was trying his or her best to deliver in terms of development for the benefit of the people and the state.

"In fact, the government has done a lot for the people and it will take time to implement all the planned projects, especially under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

"Of course it is easy to criticise the government. The opposition can say whatever they like but at the end of the day, the people have the final say," he said.

Pairin said the people should continue supporting the ruling party because only the government could bring development.