PKR today announced the formation of a “presidential council” to lead PKR Sabah that it said would serve to coordinate efforts to address those issues “of major importance to the people” in the state.

The designation of portfolios are also designed to match the BN-led state cabinet so as to provide focus and training for the party’s state leaders in pressing for accountability and in  developing the “skills and acumen” needed to bring about change in the state.

In a statement today, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the 11-member presidential council is tasked with finalising the party’s state election manifesto and serves to ink PKR Sabah’s commitment “to restore the dignity, fairness and justice to the people of Sabah”.

These come in the form of a set of offerings and policies on a wide range of political, economical and social issues affecting the people of Sabah, said Wan Azizah.

“They will tour the whole state of Sabah in February and March to engage the public and gather the feedback to be incorporated in a final document to be unveiled at the next PKR Sabah’s state convention, planned for the last week of March 2011.”

The portfolios are: 1) finance, security and immigration; 2) rural development; 3) infrastructure development; 4) housing and local government; 5) industrial development and forestry; 6) land development and management; 7) health, family development and consumer affairs; 8) sports and youth; 9) tourism, culture and environment; 10) education, human capital development and IT and 11) agriculture and food security.

“It is hoped that this form of structured monitoring and issue-based approach will signal a beginning of healthier political culture in Malaysian politics,” said Wan Azizah, who said the members of the council and their respective portfolios will be made known in the near future.

Wan Azizah announced the setting up of an organising secretariat for the state convention which will coordinate the activities and seminars to be held by the party in February and March in the build up of political momentum towards the state convention.

“Thus, PKR Sabah’s focus shall be on the welfare of the people, with two prongs approaches of promoting new policies to eradicate poverty and improving the living standards of Sabahans; while keeping the present state government accountable to the public.”