KOTA BELUD: Sabah’s current political stability reflects the strength of a locally led government under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), said the coalition’s Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said this stood in stark contrast to Parti Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM), which attempted to work with Umno in January 2023 to overthrow Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“They campaigned on ‘Sabah for Sabahans, No to Peninsula-based Parties,’ and even Shafie Apdal called for unity to topple BN in Sabah. But when the chance came, Warisan ran straight to Umno,” he said when officiating the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Kadamaian division annual genereal meeting (AGM) here on Friday.
Joniston, who is also PBS Information Chief, said the move by Warisan and PKDM as political hypocrisy that Sabahans should not forget.
He emphasised that their support for Umno’s Jawatankuasa Desa Madani (JKDM) initiative, which the GRS-led State Government strongly opposed, further exposed their inconsistency.
In contrast, he said, GRS had united local-based parties to ensure stability, with Pakatan Harapan (PH) also recognising its position by cooperating with the Hajiji-led coalition.
“When peninsula-based parties like PKR and DAP choose to support Hajiji and work with GRS, it reflects the stability GRS provides in uniting local voices,” said the Kiulu assemblyman.
He said GRS’s approach strikes a balance between federal cooperation and maintaining local leadership, which allows Sabah to secure development support while keeping decision-making within the state.
Joniston urged PBS members and GRS supporters to remain united ahead of the state election, expected to be held soonHe reaffirmed that GRS’s commitment to upholding Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) while pursuing growth and investment.
Joniston further commended PBS Kadamaian led by Demis Rumanti for its perseverance.
“Kadamaian will always be on PBS’s radar as a potential seat we could win,” he said, drawing loud cheers from more than 300 delegates and observers.
He said this stood in stark contrast to Parti Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM), which attempted to work with Umno in January 2023 to overthrow Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“They campaigned on ‘Sabah for Sabahans, No to Peninsula-based Parties,’ and even Shafie Apdal called for unity to topple BN in Sabah. But when the chance came, Warisan ran straight to Umno,” he said when officiating the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Kadamaian division annual genereal meeting (AGM) here on Friday.
Joniston, who is also PBS Information Chief, said the move by Warisan and PKDM as political hypocrisy that Sabahans should not forget.
He emphasised that their support for Umno’s Jawatankuasa Desa Madani (JKDM) initiative, which the GRS-led State Government strongly opposed, further exposed their inconsistency.
In contrast, he said, GRS had united local-based parties to ensure stability, with Pakatan Harapan (PH) also recognising its position by cooperating with the Hajiji-led coalition.
“When peninsula-based parties like PKR and DAP choose to support Hajiji and work with GRS, it reflects the stability GRS provides in uniting local voices,” said the Kiulu assemblyman.
He said GRS’s approach strikes a balance between federal cooperation and maintaining local leadership, which allows Sabah to secure development support while keeping decision-making within the state.
Joniston urged PBS members and GRS supporters to remain united ahead of the state election, expected to be held soonHe reaffirmed that GRS’s commitment to upholding Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) while pursuing growth and investment.
Joniston further commended PBS Kadamaian led by Demis Rumanti for its perseverance.
“Kadamaian will always be on PBS’s radar as a potential seat we could win,” he said, drawing loud cheers from more than 300 delegates and observers.
