KOTA KINABALU – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili appears to have politely turned down an offer from opposition Warisan for the two parties to formally cooperate in the upcoming 15th general election.
Conveying his appreciation at Warisan’s expression of interest in collaborating, he said that PBS will remain loyal to the local ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
“We in PBS value the political gesture of Warisan and its president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to cooperate and collaborate for the upcoming general elections.
“But as a local seasoned multiracial party, we are fully committed and totally loyal as a foundation member of GRS and its partners,” Ongkili said in a statement today.
Ongkili was responding to a statement by Shafie announcing Warisan’s interest in working with PBS again after having done so in May last year.
Ongkili, who is a federal minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak affairs), added that the political struggle of GRS, as expounded by its chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at its official launch last month, is not only noble and timeless, but also people-based.
Having said that, Ongkili added: “We invite Warisan and supporters to subscribe to the same goals to truly develop Sabah and secure a prosperous and safe state, free from illegal foreigners.”
He added that any respected local political party in Sabah can subscribe to the goals and aspirations of the coalition without seeking to be a member of the GRS family.
“The need for such political collaboration and partnership has never been so urgent than ever before, especially cooperation and solidarity in political unity, not only in Sabah but also with Sarawak as well, i.e. Malaysian Borneo.
“Let’s start afresh in our search for political unison as exemplified by the founding parties that helped in the formation of the nation back in 1963. Let us learn from previous lessons of unity first practised by the founding political parties of Sabah in the formation of Malaysia.
“Sabah First, Sayang Sabah and Sabah Bersatu (‘love Sabah’ and ‘united Sabah’)…those are the slogans we should all uphold,” he said. – The Vibes, June 7, 2022
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