KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to make a brief visit to Sabah today for the Himpunan Perdana Rakyat event taking place at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).
Organised by Sabah PKR for the first time, the event from 8am to noon and is expected to be attended by thousands of PKR members, along with partners from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and the unity government.
Anwar, who is also PKR president is expected to arrive at 12.30 pm to deliver the keynote address, which will be the highlight of the gathering.
Following the speech, which is expected to address various current issues related to Sabah, national developments, and international matters, the prime minister will launch the Kinabalu Declaration and the state-level Jalur Gemilang flag-waving event.
Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sabah PKR Leadership Council (MPN) chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud will also be present and speaking at the event.
Anwar is expected to leave the programme immediately after it concludes at 2 pm to return to the capital for the Himpunan Pembebasan Palestin at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, at 9pm.
This marks the prime minister's third working visit to Sabah this year, following the Aidilfitri celebrations hosted by the unity government at SICC in April and the Kaamatan celebration at the end of May.
The Himpunan Perdana Rakyat will commence with the Forum Madani Rakyat, Sabah Beyond MA63: Expectation and Way Forward at 9am, featuring UPKO secretary-general Senator Datuk Nelson Angang.
This will be followed by the Suara Rakyat address at 10am and the Pidato Pimpinan Keadilan Sabah at 10.25 am, which will include remarks by Sabah PH chairman Datuk Christina Liew.
At 11am, the Pidato Pimpinan Keadilan Pusat will be delivered by Education Minister and PKR Women's Chief Fadhlina Sidek and Home Minister and PKR Secretary-General Senator Datuk Seri Saifudin Nasution Ismail.
Also scheduled to speak are PKR vice-presidents Awang Husaini Sahari, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, and Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, as well as PKR Youth Deputy Chief Kamil Munim.