Speaking to FMT, Kurup said other ex-Sabah BN component parties such as PBS, Upko and LDP, have submitted their decisions in writing to leave the former ruling coalition following the May 9 polls but not his party.
The former federal minister announced on May 12 that PBRS decided to pull out from BN. The decision was made about the same time as Upko’s announcement but it was only made public after obtaining the green light from its Supreme Council.
He said that the party had applied to join Pakatan Harapan, adding that this was to ensure that they could fulfil the promises made to the people.
“We have never officially written in (to leave BN). We have actually applied to join PH but we ran into some objections, particularly from PKR members in Pensiangan.
“We had actually written to the very top in PH and they have acknowledged receiving our letter but there has been no response,” Kurup said.
“Even the Sabah PH chairman Christina Liew previously said there was a ‘very slim chance’ of PBRS being accepted into PH. So it is better we stay with BN first and see what happens.”
In his policy speech yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told of plans on BN’s rebranding, adding the coalition will now involve Umno, MCA, MIC, MyPPP and PBRS.
Defending the decision to remain in BN, at least for the time being, Kurup said the party needed a platform to continue their fight for the people.
“We need to have some form of anchor for our ‘perjuangan’ (struggle). This is so that we can deliver our promises to the people,” said the PBRS founder.
He declined to comment when asked on how members and the public would react as it would be seen as PBRS making a U-turn on its earlier decision.
PBRS won two seats in the 14th general election through its deputy presidents Ellron Angin, for the Sook state seat, and Kurup’s son, Arthur, in the Pensiangan parliamentary constituency.
Meanwhile, Kurup said he was still contemplating whether to continue heading the party which he founded in 1994, adding that there was a “50-50 chance” of him contesting for the top post.
“In any case, this all depends on the members if they want me to stay or not. What I know is I want to give young people an opportunity to be active in politics,” he said.
He said the party elections will take place on Oct 6, involving 38 divisions in the state.
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