Kota Kinabalu: A new party, Parti Gemilang Anak Sabah (GAS), will contest 55 seats in the imminent 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17) in the hope of forming the next State Government.
Its President Dato’ Jismit Japong said GAS would not form any alliances in its bid to secure a clear mandate to form a new single-party government with him as Chief Minister.
He said they are banking on its reformist agenda to convince voters that state policies need a new direction as the current ones have failed to deliver real benefits to the people.
“In our meeting, the party’s Supreme Council unanimously agreed to contest 55 State seats because if we can win at least 40 seats, then we are able to form a new State government without having to rely on coalitions. I can then be the next Chief Minister to implement the party’s reforms for the future of Sabah and the people.
“But in politics, we may forecast one thing today and tomorrow it changes. If we cannot form a single government, then we will consider being part of the government.”Jismit said the party is prepared to contest all 73 State seats if there is strong demand from other ethnic groups who believe in our struggle and potential winnable candidates to be fielded.
“We will not send our soldiers to commit suicide. While we did not plan to contest heavily in Chinese-majority areas, we will do so if there was demand from the community,” he said.
Jismit claims to have over three decades of political experience in Umno, Star Sabah and Warisan. He said this at a press conference after chairing a special general meeting, recently.
He said the party may adopt a “40-30-30” formula in its candidate selection, comprising 40% veteran leaders, 30% women, and 30% youths, including young women, to create a sustainable pool of future leaders to lead Sabah towards excellence.
“So far, we can confirm that we have about 28 candidates. The selection of candidates for the remaining seats would be based on open tender, except in certain constituencies where I as the party president and other senior leaders would contest.
“Under the open tender process, public are allowed to apply and prove their worth to contest in those seats,” he said, while adding that he will definitely contest in Klias as he was born there.
“The party would not field candidates in several “hotspot” seats such as those held by Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal in Senallang, Semporna, unless there are strong local candidates aligned with GAS’s struggle.
He said the party has candidates to go against the Chief Minister’s seat in Sulaman and Sabah Umno head Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin in Lamag seat.
“GAS is a new party that was established in 2024 with the mission of offering a renewed political struggle for Sabah’s future as in line with our slogan and moto – ‘Moving Towards a Leadership Change in Sabah’.
Jismit said if GAS formed the new State government, it would provide free education for all children in Sabah especially in primary and secondary schools, so that parents particularly in B40 group do not have to pay school fees and relevant costs.
“We also plan to allocate RM1 million in each parliamentary seat in Sabah so that all students education needs can be attended to.
“As for our children pursuing tertiary education, we will make sure those Government-linked Companies (GLCs) which have sound financial standing to contribute some allocations to sponsor our ‘Anak Sabah’ in the local and overseas universities,” he said.
Jismit said the party aims to demand fuel price to be set at RM1 per litre for diesel and petrol especially for domestic use and private car owners in the State because Sabah is one of the biggest oil producers in the country.
The party manifesto would be revealed after the dissolution of the Sabah Assembly.
To a question, he said any collaboration with other local parties to form a coalition would only be looked into after the PRN17 results out.
Its President Dato’ Jismit Japong said GAS would not form any alliances in its bid to secure a clear mandate to form a new single-party government with him as Chief Minister.
He said they are banking on its reformist agenda to convince voters that state policies need a new direction as the current ones have failed to deliver real benefits to the people.
“In our meeting, the party’s Supreme Council unanimously agreed to contest 55 State seats because if we can win at least 40 seats, then we are able to form a new State government without having to rely on coalitions. I can then be the next Chief Minister to implement the party’s reforms for the future of Sabah and the people.
“But in politics, we may forecast one thing today and tomorrow it changes. If we cannot form a single government, then we will consider being part of the government.”Jismit said the party is prepared to contest all 73 State seats if there is strong demand from other ethnic groups who believe in our struggle and potential winnable candidates to be fielded.
“We will not send our soldiers to commit suicide. While we did not plan to contest heavily in Chinese-majority areas, we will do so if there was demand from the community,” he said.
Jismit claims to have over three decades of political experience in Umno, Star Sabah and Warisan. He said this at a press conference after chairing a special general meeting, recently.
He said the party may adopt a “40-30-30” formula in its candidate selection, comprising 40% veteran leaders, 30% women, and 30% youths, including young women, to create a sustainable pool of future leaders to lead Sabah towards excellence.
“So far, we can confirm that we have about 28 candidates. The selection of candidates for the remaining seats would be based on open tender, except in certain constituencies where I as the party president and other senior leaders would contest.
“Under the open tender process, public are allowed to apply and prove their worth to contest in those seats,” he said, while adding that he will definitely contest in Klias as he was born there.
“The party would not field candidates in several “hotspot” seats such as those held by Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal in Senallang, Semporna, unless there are strong local candidates aligned with GAS’s struggle.
He said the party has candidates to go against the Chief Minister’s seat in Sulaman and Sabah Umno head Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin in Lamag seat.
“GAS is a new party that was established in 2024 with the mission of offering a renewed political struggle for Sabah’s future as in line with our slogan and moto – ‘Moving Towards a Leadership Change in Sabah’.
Jismit said if GAS formed the new State government, it would provide free education for all children in Sabah especially in primary and secondary schools, so that parents particularly in B40 group do not have to pay school fees and relevant costs.
“We also plan to allocate RM1 million in each parliamentary seat in Sabah so that all students education needs can be attended to.
“As for our children pursuing tertiary education, we will make sure those Government-linked Companies (GLCs) which have sound financial standing to contribute some allocations to sponsor our ‘Anak Sabah’ in the local and overseas universities,” he said.
Jismit said the party aims to demand fuel price to be set at RM1 per litre for diesel and petrol especially for domestic use and private car owners in the State because Sabah is one of the biggest oil producers in the country.
The party manifesto would be revealed after the dissolution of the Sabah Assembly.
To a question, he said any collaboration with other local parties to form a coalition would only be looked into after the PRN17 results out.