PBRS tells PKR to close shop in Pensiangan

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup is now settled down as Pensiangan member of Parliament after the Friday March 13's Federal Court decision to allow his appeal against a Kota Kinabalu Election Court declaration that his win uncontested in the March 8, 2008 general elections was null and avoid.

Kurup, who is Federal Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister, had promised that now being cleared of the Election Court's judgement, he is now all focused in bringing more development to his constituents.

A first time MP, Kurup was Sook assemblyman and had served as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, among other, in the previous Sabah State Cabinet.

Now that Kurup is confirmed as Pensiangan MP, PBRS is calling on opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Pensiangan headed by Danny Andipai to close shop and bring all his supporters to join Barisan Nasional (BN).

It was Andipai who initiated the election petition against Kurup after his candidacy for the Pensiangan seat was rejected on nomination day of the general elections last year.

In calling PKR Pensiangan to disband, PBRS information Chief Rayner Francis Udong said that only BN, of which PBRS is a component member, could bring about development in the constituency.

"Particiaption of opposition PKR into the BN's fold is most welcomed," he said.

After the Federal Court's ruled in favour of Kurup, Andiapi challenged the PBRS president to vacated his MP seat and contest against him in a by-election. To this Udong said it only showed that Andipai was politically immature.

"We cannot overcome the wisdom of law, justice and what really transpired had been known. So Andipai should respect the decision," Udong said.