Kota Kinabalu: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) on Monday stressed that the party would maintain its partnership with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as coalition of Sabah leaders and citizens, its Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said.
The Kiulu Assemblyman added that news by an online portal claiming more than half of the party’s Supreme Council members wanting to cooperate with Parti Warisan (Warisan) was untrue.
He said although some of them had brought the matter up during last week’s meeting, there was no voting session held to determine the party’s decision.
“The principle of management and decision-making at the PBS Supreme Council level is through a unanimous resolution, not a voting process,” he said in a statement.
GRS comprises Bersatu Sabah, PBS, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) and United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) and is working together with Barisan Nasional to govern the State.
Meanwhile, PBS is standing firm on its decision to use the GRS logo in the 15th General Election (GE15) despite internal “pressure” to contest under its own symbol.
PBS President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said GRS was a local coalition that reflected the people’s sentiment towards local parties.
“We’ll stick to the decision on GRS unless there is a review,” he said
Former PBS President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had said recently that current voter sentiment favoured local parties and it was important to strengthen Sabah’s voice on State rights in Parliament through local party representation.
He indirectly raised questions as to why PBS was prepared to use the GRS symbol without a clear indication of what seats would be allocated to the multiracial, Kadazandusun-based party.
The former Chief Minister and founding president of PBS also observed that local-based Warisan was already in a position to name its candidates while PBS had still not indicated how many seats it would be vying for under GRS.
GRS and Sabah Barisan Nasional (comprising Sabah Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS, MCA and MIC) are working together at the state level.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is GRS Chairman, and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is Sabah Barisan Chairman, have agreed to work together to avoid friendly clashes.
The seat-sharing arrangement for the 25 Parliament seats in Sabah has yet to be revealed but Bung Moktar has said the allies were working on a near 50: 50 ratio.
PBRS is not keen for Barisan to work with GRS and has been urging the coalition to go solo.
GRS’ local credentials have also been questioned by opposition Warisan, which claimed the presence of national-based Bersatu showed it was being indirectly controlled by leaders from the peninsula.
Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had also made overtures to PBS to join forces for a local-based offering to voters.
PBS and Ongkili have declined and reiterated that they stand in solidarity with GRS and Hajiji.
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