Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has defended its latest recruit, maverick politician Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, against the attacks from Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders.

PKR Sabah deputy liaison chief Christina Liew said the opposition party accepts anyone who subscribes to the struggle for a just Malaysian society.

She was responding to what appears to be an attempt to character assassinate Kitingan, who joined PKR over the weekend with an alleged 17,000 supporters.

"If you examine his (Kitinggan's) record - right from coming back from his overseas studies, he has always been fighting for the state's rights . For that he was even detained under the Internal Security Act," she said.

She added when Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) - led by his brother Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin - rejoined BN, Kitingan was excluded and instead used as the scapegoat for PBS going against BN.

Kitingan's decision to join PKR appears to have created a certain degree of discomfort among BN leaders.

Chief Minister and state BN chairperson Musa Aman, Pairin and PBD deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkilili have chided him for playing the same old tune in bringing up the issue of state rights.

The rights, among others, include oil royalties and the appointment of locals to diplomatic positions such as ambassadors overseas

Although many of the points in the 20-point Malaysia Agreement might not be relevant anymore, Liew said five or six points were still relevant.

For example, the PKR leader said Sabahans are qualified to be appointed as ambassadors and to more important ministerial positions.

Locals want change

As for the alleged large number of supporters who followed Kitingan, Liew said: "We are running out of application forms, indicating the silent majority who want us to bring change in Sabah."

The fact that some BN leaders were trying to character assassinate Kitingan ( pix ) showed that they were uncomfortable and sensed the changing mood of the people, she added.

"We do not pinch members from other parties. They willingly join us," she said.

Local newspapers today reported the chief minister as saying that opposition parties like PKR were seasonal parties and opposition politicians are seasonal politicians.

"If I am a seasonal politician how come I am still with PKR?" Liew responded.

She claimed that in recent weeks, the state BN government has started to move with promises for water and electricity in areas occupied by illegal immigrants, including Sandakan where Musa hails from.

One of the common allegations made by opposition parties is that BN secures votes from illegal immigrants who use temporary or fake identity cards.