KOTA KINABALU – The electoral pact between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) has yet to be formalised, as both alliances are now in disagreement over a newly formed state party.
It is learnt that Sabah Umno, a BN component, has since called for a parley with GRS over Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) party’s decision to enter the election race.
KDM is one of the four Sabah parties applying to join GRS.
Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Jafry Arifin has urged GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to state their stand on the action of KDM to contest.
He said the decision by KDM will only confuse the voters and would affect the GRS-BN cooperation.
“KDM has already expressed support for and applied to join GRS, but at the same time, they are also announcing candidates to contest in the election and will directly contest against GRS and BN candidates,” he said.
KDM president Datuk Peter Anthony has confirmed that the party will contest in Kimanis, Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Marudu, while revealing the party will not contest in Papar and Tenom.
Anthony also indicated that the party is now going through applications from party members who want to contest in the other parliamentary seats in Sabah.
Sabah has 26 parliamentary seats, including Labuan.
GRS, in their response via the alliance’s working secretary Datuk Mohamed Razali Razi, said KDM’s decision has nothing to do with GRS, adding that the party is still not part of the GRS.
“Because of this, Hajiji, as chairman of GRS, has no authority or power to stop or deny KDM from contesting and fielding candidates in any seats, including the ones where BN and GRS are contesting.
“KDM’s actions are not against GRS and the principles of democracy, as the party is not part of GRS,” he said.
Both GRS and BN have concluded seat talks and will likely announce their candidates before the nomination day.
The announcement will make official on whether the two alliances have entered an electoral pact for the federal election.
GRS and BN already seal an electoral pact for the state election in 2020, but not the federal election as yet.
It is understood KDM, a splinter party of Warisan, will clash with Umno in Sepanggar and Kimanis, while it will be against GRS in Kota Kinabalu and Kota Marudu.
KDM is fielding former Warisan leader Jumardie Lokman in Sepanggar, entrepreneur Amat Mohd Yusof in Kimanis and Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Datuk Winston Liaw.
KDM is also eyeing Tenom and Papar, which are two seats Umno also has its sights set on.
Anthony has strong support in Tenom, while KDM vice-president Datuk Juil Nuatim is likely to be placed in Papar. – The Vibes, October 27, 2022
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