Anwar arrives in Sabah, scheduled to meet state leaders tonight

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at Terminal 2, Kota Kinabalu International Airport here tonight after a two-day official visit to Indonesia.

His plane arrived at 9.41 pm and he was greeted by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, who is also United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) vice president, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Parti Warisan secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua Jr were also present.

The prime minister and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also UMNO president, are scheduled to attend an event with Sabah state leaders at a hotel here tonight, before departing for Kuala Lumpur.

On Friday, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin announced that Sabah UMNO and BN had retracted their support to Hajiji due to loss of confidence in his position as chief minister and over a breach in an agreement between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN).

The following day, however, five BN assemblymen stated their support for Hajiji and are among the 44 assemblymen who Hajiji claims to support him to remain as chief minister and the head of the state government.

The Sabah state assembly has 79 assemblymen, including six appointed members.

-- BERNAMA