PKR vice-president Darell Leiking has quit the party to team up with former Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal in an anti-BN "Sabah platform".

"My resignation should not be the focus. The focus is that we have now formed a party to change Sabah," he told Malaysiakini.

The Penampang MP was earlier at the Registrar of Societies in Putrajaya with Shafie to submit an application to take over an existing party.

Leiking was, however, tightlipped on details of the party and whether an alliance would be forged with Pakatan Harapan.

He nevertheless stressed that his fight against BN continues.

Asked who the new party's allies would be, he said: "Anyone who is against (the BN) government can be our ally."

He said Shafie would make the announcement on the Sabah party next month, pending the ROS' decision.

Leiking was PKR's sole MP in Sabah.

Meanwhile, PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in a statement tonight confirmed that Leiking had informed her of his decision.

“He acknowledged that PKR was a party that struggles for the people’s rights in Sabah and he also expressed appreciation at the opportunity given to him by the party to win the Penampang parliamentary seat.

“PKR accepts his decision based on his commitment that we still stand together against BN,” she said.

Wan Azizah said PKR is actively trying to unite the anti-BN forces.

“As a political party, PKR is always committed to the struggle of social justice for all as well as the spirit of autonomy for Sabah and Sarawak in a Malaysian federation that is just and united,” she said.