KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will remain with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in supporting the stability of the State Government, while continuing to speak up on Sabah’s interests.
Its President Dr Joachim Gunsalam stressed that PBS would remain a loyal, constructive and principled partner within GRS, while maintaining its identity and positions on issues including MA63, rural development, education, the economy and employment opportunities.
“We want a strong GRS, and at the same time, we want a strong PBS. A strong GRS requires its component parties to be strong. A strong PBS will strengthen GRS.
“Loyalty to the coalition does not mean losing our identity. We are with GRS, but we remain PBS.
“Politics without integrity will ultimately lose the people’s trust. PBS must be a party whose leaders are respected for being trustworthy, responsible, transparent, hard-working and close to the people,” he said.
In his speech, Joachim also said PBS would not abandon its original struggle over Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
“Sabah’s rights remain at the core of our struggle. Of the 29 matters discussed through the official MA63 platform, 13 have been fully resolved.
“Sabah’s rights are not a gift. Sabah’s rights are rights that were agreed upon when Malaysia was formed.
“We will continue to cooperate with the State Government and Federal Government whenever such cooperation benefits Sabah, but PBS will remain courageous in stating its position when Sabah’s interests and rights need to be defended.
“PBS will continue to be an active, relevant and consistent voice in defending Sabah’s rights and interests. We do not want MA63 to become merely a political slogan. We want tangible implementation and results that the people can feel,” he said.
Joachim also said PBS must transform if it wanted to remain relevant in the political arena.
“Transformation does not mean abandoning tradition or forgetting history. Transformation means using past experience through new approaches.
“First, we have made changes to the PBS Constitution stipulating that the PBS Delegates Conference will be held once every three years.
“PBS’ annual event will be held in conjunction with the PBS anniversary celebrations every March.
“The celebration can be held either through a PBS convention or periodic seminars.
“I leave it to the Supreme Council members and division chiefs.
“Second, we must digitalise PBS. The membership system, database, communication between the central leadership, divisions and branches, as well as election management, must make more systematic use of technology and data.
“Third, we must develop a new generation of leaders. We need to strengthen programmes such as the Political Cadet or PBS Leadership Academy to identify and train young leaders in politics, public policy, communications, economics and election management.
“Fourth, we must strengthen the PBS Think Tank. A modern political party cannot merely react to issues. We must be capable of offering solutions.
“PBS needs to develop policies and ideas on MA63, Sabah’s economy, education, employment opportunities, cost of living, food security, rural development, technology, energy and the future of the younger generation,” he said.
Joachim also called on the new generation to understand and appreciate the party’s struggle.
“We cannot expect young people to support PBS simply because of its history in 1985. They want to know: What can PBS do for their future.
“We must talk about education, TVET, jobs, wages, housing, entrepreneurship, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, the gig economy and opportunities to build a better life in Sabah.
“PBS Youth and Beliawanis must be given space to become idea creators and leaders, not merely programme implementers.
“We want them to learn from the experience of previous leaders, but at the same time, they must be given room to bring new approaches.
“The younger generation is the party’s greatest asset. We need to ensure they receive quality education, opportunities to develop their skills, political awareness and space to participate actively in the democratic process,” he said.
