KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR Chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pic) said it is Upko’s decision whether to contest seats already discussed under its arrangement with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
He said PKR has advised Upko to consider the implications as overlapping contests could strain relations, adding that PKR will honour the principle of incumbency and prior agreements with GRS.
Mustapha dismissed speculation that PKR would field former GRS hopefuls, saying the party is focused on winnable candidates drawn from new faces, incumbents and former civil servants who are all undergoing screening.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will visit Sabah this Sunday for a party meeting to finalise candidate selections, noting that Sabah PH has completed its internal seat discussions and is wrapping up talks with Barisan Nasional (BN) and GRS.
Mustapha denied claims that Sabah PH Chief Datuk Ewon Benedick was being sidelined, saying Ewon, as the coalition’s election coordinator, has been actively leading meetings and ensuring all components remain united ahead of the state polls.
