PETALING JAYA: Sabah-based United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) has officially joined the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

       "The presidential council meeting today (Aug 26) decided to accept Upko as a component party of Pakatan Harapan.

       "Pakatan believes that the addition of Upko will continue to strengthen cooperation, especially in preparation for the 15th General Election," the coalition's secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in a statement on Thursday.

       He also said as previously mentioned, a meeting with Opposition party leaders will be held soon to discuss political issues, including preparations for the upcoming parliamentary session on Sept 6.

       "The Pakatan door is always open to working with other Opposition parties and we welcome these parties to apply to join us," he said.

       Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau is the Upko president.