Kota Kinabalu: New Sabah-based party, Parti Gemilang Anak Negeri Sabah (GAS) denied being secretly funded by certain quarters to split votes in the imminent 17th State Election (PRN17).
Its President Dato’ Jismit Japong said such claim was baseless and aimed at discrediting the party’s credibility as a genuine political movement.
Jismit, who expects the State Legislative Assembly to be dissolved on Sept 19, said GAS set up last year and is committed in its struggle to fight for the rights and interests of Sabah.
It hopes to win big by contesting 55 seats to secure the mandate to replace the current State Government.
He questioned why the issue of who is funding the party is anyone’s concern.
“We are raising our own funds, and some of the details will be announced in due course.
“What matters is not the so-called funders, but whether we have the qualifications and capacity of candidates to contest in the PRN17,” he said.
Jismit was speaking after its first Supreme Council meeting, Sunday. Some 54 Supreme Council members from 22 divisions out of 25 attended the meeting.
He acknowledged that critics have dismissed GAS a “mosquito party” and used other derogatory terms.
“Formation of GAS is a legitimate exercise of democracy and a response to the failures of current leadership. We aim to provide fresh leadership, and not ‘mosquito politics’.
“In fact, establishment of new political parties should not be questioned, as democracy allows anyone to form a party.
“What often happens is that some in Sabah register parties only to sell them later. That is not genuine leadership, and we (GAS) are not interested in that,” he said.
He said GAS would be officially launched in Beaufort on Sept 21 with a second launch planned for the East Coast at a later date.
“We already have 25 divisions across Sabah,” he said, adding the party has received 286 applications from individuals expressing interest to contest as candidates under an open tender system.