PBS MPs Never Approached By PKR To Defect, Says Dr Maximus

KOTA KINABALU, March 21 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) members of parliament were never approached by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders to cross over to the Opposition, Deputy President Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said today.

" They won't dare. We're a team of principled leaders. Why should PKR and the Opposition engage in this disrespectful act of "buying" elected representatives.

" We had enough of frog politics in the past and the people had shown their disapproval to it by eliminating unprincipled politicians through the ballot box," the newly-appointed Science, Technology and Innovation Minister told Bernama today.

Dr Maximus was responding to press reports saying PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had held talks with a number of BN lawmakers said to be keen in defecting.

Anwar was also quoted as saying Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs from Sabah and Sarawak had contacted him to discuss switching sides.

Stressing that such acts must be condemned, he said, politicians who leap-frog must be removed.

" Those who promote this sort of dirty and undignified politics should be condemned by the people...it's a corrupt practice," said Dr Maximus who defended the Kota Marudu seat.

He suggested the culprits be dealt with under the anti-corruption laws or existing security laws for causing political instability and public disorder.

The PBS, a BN component, has three MPs in Dr Maximus, PBS president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (Keningau) and PBS supreme council member Datuk Chong Ket Wah (Batu Sapi).

The party lost the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat to DAP in the March 8 general election.