Anwar claims party attracting Kadazan, Chinese professionals
January 16, 2006
Daily Express

ANWAR claims a major breakthrough has been made in Sabah with a large group of Kadazan and Chinese professionals as well as some very key Umno personnel wanting to join Keadilan.

"The details will be announced at a suitable time. Suffice for me to say it will give a sufficiently strong impact in Sabah where the leadership of Muslim Bumiputeras, non-Muslim Bumiputeras and the Chinese will be together," he said.

He said some prominent Kadazan leaders wanted him to announce their names but he would leave it to Parti Keadilan Sabah Chairperson Hj Awang Tengah Hj Awang Amin to do so at the right time.

"I think they (Kadazan leaders) want to do it in style."

Anwar said the new development may cause the party to make a little adjustments to accommodate the various segments.

"I will propose to the party leadership that some adaptation be made to the line-up at state and central levels."

To a question on the 20-Point Agreement, Anwar said it is an old issue and has been raised by Sabah Keadilan leaders.

"Some of the provisions have been implemented while others were not. But there are specific concerns like the questions of language and royalty distribution. Based on his experience, he said the division of royalty should not be a big problem as revenue is needed to develop states lagging behind.

"Sabah is included among the backward states. To me, this is also the biggest issue."

Keadilan leaders, he said, have agreed to approve bigger royalty (if the party forms the government one day) but with strict financial regulations and more transparency.

"It's different with Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) because they don't even discuss this matter at all. They can't discuss it."

On a proposal to have a Deputy Prime Minister from Sabah and Sarawak raised by the people during a dialogue in Tuaran, Anwar said Keadilan President (Datin Seri Wan Azizah) had already announced this at the 2002 Sabah Convention.

"Keadilan had agreed to consider that the seat for the second DPM be given to Sabah or Sarawak. This is to give the image of acceptance and the like."

Earlier Keadilan Sabah Deputy Chairperson, Christina Liew, said six years behind bars did not deter Anwar from pursuing his belief in the right things. "He has remained the same, albeit more tolerant and wiser."

Presently, Anwar is the Visiting Professor of the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA, and Visiting Diplomat of the Council of Foreign Relations, New York, among other speaking engagements. 

Source: http://dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=39512