THAT PKR yesterday launched its Sabah election machinery at a separate event held simultaneously as Warisan Plus’ is a mere coincidence, said a party leader today.

“We had already planned for it to coincide with the PKR central leadership committee meeting today,” state election director Mohd Amin Abdul Mem told The Malaysian Insight.

“There’s no issue of PKR working against Warisan Plus or going on its own.”

He said the party sent representatives to the Warisan Plus event.

Warisan Plus, comprising Parti Warisan Sabah, Pakatan Harapan and the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko), launched its election machinery in Keningau. Caretaker chief minister and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal officiated at the event.

At the same time, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim officiated at the launch of his party’s polls machinery at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu.

The PKR event was attended only by party members, while Warisan Plus’ launch included party leaders and volunteers from Upko, DAP and Amanah.

PKR’s absence at the Warisan Plus event fuelled rumours that the party is not planning to work with the alliance after Shafie’s name was floated as prime minister candidate.

Amin, however, said PKR wants to work with Warisan Plus in the state elections, which will kick off with nominations on September 12. Polling has been fixed for September 26.

“No issue at all. Anwar and PKR adviser Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail met Shafie to discuss the state elections today.”

In a Facebook post, Anwar said the party discussed seat allocations with Shafie, and that he hopes PKR will get its fair share of seats to contest.

A total of 73 state seats are up for grabs, and 1.12 million Sabahans are eligible to cast their ballots. – September 6, 2020.