Kota Kinabalu: Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah and GRS assured that both sides are committed to upholding unity and that leaders, members or supporters of the two coalitions should stay calm and not make any hurting statements.
Sabah BN Information Chief Datuk Raime Unggi said it would accept every decision taken by its central leadership while, at the same time, continue the consensus approach with the existing coalition.
Referring to the spat between Sabah BN Chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin and GRS counterpart Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor over support for the next Prime Minister, he said both leaders have spoken and it is good to wait for any developments in Kuala Lumpur before making any decision.
Bung has criticised the statement made by GRS Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor that showed support for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister of Malaysia after GE15.
While describing it as if he (Hajiji) was declaring war on BN Sabah, Bung Moktar’s statement was later refuted by Hajiji saying that he did not mean it like that, instead claiming that the agreement made was invalid since BN had lost in GE15.
Hajiji, however, hoped BN Sabah would continue to cooperate with the GRS to govern Sabah in maintaining the momentum of the joint-led government administration.
“For us in BN Sabah, we will accept every decision taken by the central leadership but, at the same time, we will also take the approach of continuing the consensus with the existing coalition.
“As for who supports who, let the upper level make the decision,” he said.
Raime also agreed with GRS Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai asking all parties to calm down and focus more on the welfare of the people of Sabah.
“It is true that the situation is quite ‘hot’ in Kuala Lumpur which also involves some of our leaders who won parliamentary seats in the recent 15th General Election (GE15).
“But I am confident and believe, with the consensus that we have now, we can avoid any conflict that some parties may hope to say that the governing coalition in Sabah is fighting.
“So as a spirit of friendship, I hope that if any statement is made, it should be referred to both parties first because the current scenario forces us to keep quiet first before saying anything,” he said.