Kota Kinabalu: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Acting President Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam admits the road to Kadazand Dusun Murut (KDM) unity is not without obstacles, especially after Star Sabah President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan decided that his party will go solo, despite an earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed with PBS under the GRS coalition.
“When we had that understanding, people were very excited because they said there would be some unity there,” Dr Joachim said.
“Our unity, especially in the Kadazan Dusun Murut areas, appears fractured,” he said.
PBS and Star Sabah signed the MoU on April 18, 2024 to strengthen their political cooperation and the GRS coalition. However, Star Sabah left the coalition on Oct 1, 2025.
Dr Joachim, a medical doctor, said unity cannot be achieved if everyone insists on their way.
“There must be give and take.”Dr Joachim pointed out the importance of consistency and commitment in political struggle.
“We in PBS, Gagasan Rakyat and Star Sabah are the founding members of GRS.
“If suddenly we say, ‘I want to leave now’, what does it make of you? There is no integrity, no consistency.
“We have to be consistent in the struggle,” he said adding political commitments should not be abandoned when challenges arise.
“We are all struggling for the betterment of Sabah. We want to make the people of Sabah more prosperous and economically better off,” he said, reiterating the coalition’s shared goals.
He also said leadership positions should never be seen as permanent and that Sabah’s future matters more than any individual’s political career.
“None of us want to end up being president for life. After this election leave it to the party to decide whoever they want. It does not have to be me,” said the Acting President.
“This is a democratic party and during our next election, they can propose anyone to become the president. It does not have to be me. It depends on all the members,” he said.
“PBS has been there for a very long time. I believe in the true struggle of PBS. Problems will always be there, but you should stick to your struggles.
“Sometimes the opposition tries to put a wedge between the leaders. They want to divide us.
“If we are disunited, then we give a chance to the opposition,” he said.
