Ruling coalition Barisan Nasional today readmitted Parti Bersatu Sabah into its fold after a lapse of 12 years.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who announced this after chairing the BN supreme council meeting, said PBS was readmitted without any conditions.

The premier, who is also the BN chairman, said PBS must abide by the rules and regulations of the coalition.

"However, BN has the right to make whatever decisions for the PBS and its members," Mahathir was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.

Applications spurned

BN also resolved to reject the membership application from the Indian Progressive Front (IPF), Parti Punjabi and the Kongress India Muslim Malaysia (Kimma)

PBS, led by former Sabah chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, left the coalition on the eve of the 1990 general elections, claiming that the party was being mistreated by the ruling coalition.

PBS aligned itself with the now defunct Semangat 46. It was first accepted as a BN component party in 1986.

In the present state line-up, PBS has eight assemblyperson. The party decided to apply to rejoin BN last November.

Earlier today, 13 members of the party were appointed as municipal and district councillors in the Sabah state administration.