PBS eyeing at least four parliamentary seats in GE15

KOTA KINABALU – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has set its sights on at least four parliamentary seats ahead of the coming national polls, even as seat negotiations have yet to start with partners in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) alliance.

PBS’ leaders had already made it known that the party intends to contest the Tuaran and Ranau parliamentary seats, but party sources say there are plans to go for at least two more.

The sources did not say which other seats the party plans to contest, though they ruled out the opposition strongholds of Penampang and Batu Sapi.

Earlier, PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili had said they were confident of taking Tuaran as all four state seats under the parliamentary constituency were won by members of the current GRS-BN pact in the 2020 Sabah polls.

Key support bases include the Sulaman state constituency, held by Sabah Bersatu head and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Pantai Dalit which was won by Jasnih Daya of BN lynchpin Umno, Maximus said.

Tuaran is currently held by Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, who won a second straight term in 2018 while his party was still part of BN. Upko pulled out of BN not long after the election to back Warisan and the Pakatan Harapan-led federal administration.

PBS vice-president Datuk Joachim Gunsalam separately announced his intent to contest the Ranau parliamentary seat.

However, Ranau is currently held by coalition partners Bersatu through Datuk Jonathan Yasin, who had initially won the seat in 2018 under the PKR banner but later defected following the infamous Sheraton Move two years later.

Joachim said he will abide by whatever decision made by GRS-BN once they conclude their seat negotiations. - The Vibes, April 4, 2022