KOTA KINABALU – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will remain with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) despite internal pressures from within the party, its president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili asserted today.
Pointing out that the GRS alliance, which is currently ruling over Sabah, is a registered party, he said: “We stick to our decision as a GRS component unless there is a review.”
He said this as a brief reply to a question regarding talk that PBS should work with other local parties.
His response came in view of the party’s founder Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan calling for votes to be given to Sabah-based parties in the upcoming general election.
Kitingan’s words could be easily seen as singling out Bersatu, the dominant party in GRS, which originated in peninsula.
The party’s information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai also clarified that at the PBS supreme council meeting last week, there was no vote to decide on the matter.
“The principle of management and decision-making at the supreme council level of PBS was based on unanimous decision, not voting process.
“The PBS leadership instead stressed to remain with GRS as the genuine Sabah alliance,” he said.
The Vibes had earlier reported that Ongkili was under pressure as the party faces calls from within to go local or continue to work under the “big tent” concept in GRS. – The Vibes, October 17, 2022
