PKR is willing to give up several seats it contested in Sabah in the last general election and allow Sabah-based opposition parties, particularly Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp), to contest them, its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said.

This was to allow for a one-to-one contest with the BN in the coming 13th general election, he added.

"We are negotiating with several politicians in Sabah so that a one-to-one contest with the BN can take place," he told reporters after attending an economic forum in Kota Kinabalu today.

The opposition leader also reminded Pakatan partners not to make any "arrogant" statement regarding Sabah opposition parties, saying their objective was the same.

"We also hope that the opposition in will Sabah uphold the struggle of Pakatan and not practice politics that is parochial in nature," he said.

Anwar said he had been monitoring the political trend in Sabah, which he said was based on "state-centric" struggles.

"For Pakatan Rakyat, what is important is the struggles for all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion or creed," he said.

T’gganu PKR unhappy with PAS

Meanwhile, Terengganu PKR leaders appeared to be unhappy with PAS over the Islamic party’s decision to offer it five state seats and two parliamentary seats to contest.

Its chairman Azan Ismail said "if PKR is regarded as beggars, then beggars can't be choosers”.

"We just have to accept what is given to us. What can we say if PAS sees itself as a terrific and stronger party?

"I am also surprised why the statement on the decision was made by the PAS central Education Bureau chairman and not by the party's top leadership," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Azan was asked to comment on the statement by bureau chairman Abu Bakar Chik yesterday, openly admitting that Terengganu PAS was stronger than its PKR counterpart in facing the coming general election.

In this regard, PAS will allow PKR to field not more than seven candidates (five for state seats and two for parliamentary seats) in the coming elections.

Before this, Terengganu PKR had announced its intention to contest 11 state seats and three parliamentary seats in the opposition's attempt to wrest the state from BN.

- Bernama