Kota Kinabalu: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) said it is fully prepared for the general election and has laid bare the possibility of clashing with state Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, notably Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sabah (PBRS).
The party’s Assistant Secretary-General Rizal Johari said Star is always aware that whenever it enters the election ring, it is fighting for no one else other than the rights of Sabah and Sabahans.
“If the PBRS-BN wants to go solo in this general election, then so be it. We are always prepared to contest because we have always been true to our struggle in fighting for the rights of our state and our people,” he said.
He said Star wants to contest five parliamentary seats in the general election.
“I believe it’s a fair request because we are a local Sabah party and we are the voice of the people especially in the interior areas of Sabah in parliament.”
PBRS President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, in a statement on Saturday, urged Sabah BN to go solo in the state.
He believed the BN-Gabungan Rakyat sabah (GRS) alliance in Sabah would only give an advantage to Perikatan Nasional (PN).
He said almost 100 per cent of PBRS divisions and grassroots members were against an electoral pact between the BN and GRS, which is led by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor who heads the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in Sabah.
He said this despite Sabah BN Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin assuring there would be no clash with GRS as the sharing of seats would be on a 50:50 basis. PBRS Youth Chief Dr Edwin Laimin and the party’s Batu Sapi coordinator Mohd Fazil Ajak lent support to their president’s call.
According to Rizal, should the state BN decide to go solo, there would be no love lost between them.
“We will respect whatever the decision will be. As a local party in the GRS, Star continues our struggle to fulfil the true aspirations of all Sabahans.
“We also respect PBRS’ call. But if the GRS wins, we will support whichever bloc that will form the next government for the sake of Sabahans,” he said.
However, Rizal stressed this does not mean the GRS Sabah Government would blindly bow to anyone.
“People vote for us because they know what we stand and fight for. They also know that our President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has always been consistent in his political struggle.
“His opponents can criticise him all they want but the people know that at the core, he always fights for you and me and our future generation,” he said.
Rizal said it is important for people to be clear about any political party’s true agenda and not allow themselves to be influenced merely by sentiments.
“Any party can claim to be a local party and that it is fighting for the rights of Sabah and Sabahans. Spend some time to check their track record because talk is cheap,” he said.
Meanwhile, PBRS insists on not wanting to relinquish the Batu Sapi seat to GRS.
PBRS Information Chief Fredie Sua said all party members from over 1,500 branches echoed the recent call of BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid on Thursday.
It was quickly followed up by support by party President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and its Youth Chief who is also BN Vice Youth Chief, Dr Edwin Laimin.
Fredie said according to Batu Sapi Chief Coordinator, Fazil Ajak, they are ready to contest the seat before it is purportedly claimed by GRS.
“GRS’s relationship with BN is only to shroud the people’s eyes, disrupting stability and peace,” Fredie quoted him as saying.
Fredie said PBRS have made their aspirations of contesting a few parliamentary seats to BN. Without naming them, he believed BN had a bright chance of winning.
“Even PBRS Tuaran Division Chief, Handry Luaran, said it is time for PBRS to take Tuaran back for BN. Handry said to let BN decide the candidate but to pledge full support,” he said.
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