'Give PBS the seats held by SAPP'

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 11 (Daily Express) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth wants the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to consider giving seats currently held by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) to PBS for the coming 13th General Election.

Its chief Datuk Jahid Jahim said it would not be impossible for BN to entrust seats that are currently held by SAPP like Luyang, Sepanggar, Likas and Tawau to PBS.

"What is important is for our wing members at division level to actively carry out recruitment to register new members for the party and strengthen their respective election machinery so that we are more than ready to get the seats that are held by SAPP.

"Work harder, consolidate the spirit and increase the members' confidence level so that our party is given the trust of getting back those SAPP seats in the coming election," he said.

Jahid, who is also Youth and Sports Assistant Minister, said this in his policy speech at the 25th Annual General Meeting of PBS at Hongkod Koisaan hall in Penampang near here on Wednesday.

Party president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan officiated at the AGM of the PBS Youth and Wanita movements.

Jahid also emphasised on concerted efforts by members to work together with the party and BN leadership so that the Kota Kinabalu and Sri Tanjong parliamentary seats that are held by opposition parties can be wrested from them in the upcoming election.

On the illegal immigrant issue, he said the PBS Youth agreed with the Wanita that there is need for a clear directive and apparent signs of resolution to tackle the problem in Sabah.

Otherwise, Jahid said the Youth wing would consistently pursue the issue to be resolved based on legal provisions as allowed in the Constitution so as to safeguard the interest of Sabahans.

For the past 25 years, he said the party has increasingly become mature and its voice that highlights Sabahans' interests and needs are often listened to by the Federal Government.

"PBS has achieved many victories and several disappointments in the past 25 years of its political struggle at State and national level.

Due to these, the party members have become more mature in facing future challenges.

"For example, the landslide victory of Barisan Nasional/PBS candidate in Batu Sapi recently has injected a strong spirit in the Youth as this proved PBS is still relevant in the current political landscape.

"That is why it is vital for Youth members to help the party leadership to empower the party by opening more branches and recruiting new members," Jahid said.