KOTA KINABALU – A full-page advertisement taken by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) on the last day of the electoral campaign has been viewed as a dismal attempt by the ruling alliance to copy Warisan’s Borneo bloc concept.
Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking has described the move as “stealing”.
“We can probably say the idea was stolen as they (GRS) were against the idea of a Borneo Bloc before.
“But then again it is also probably a good thing as GRS now realises Warisan was right on the Borneo Bloc,” he told The Vibes.
Leiking said the Borneo Bloc however will only work if the seats in Sabah are won by local parties, which GRS is incapable of due to the presence of peninsula-based Bersatu.
“It must be free from any peninsula-based parties whose decision could be hindered by referring to their peninsula office first.
“The reality is I don’t hate the peninsula-based parties and their leaders who are also Sabahans.
“But these parties are trying to capture the federal seats in Sabah and their winnings will contribute to those in the federal election,” he said.
Leiking said Sarawak premier and Gabungan Parti Sarawak chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg did not want any peninsular parties as their presence would hinder state decisions.
He said the Borneo Bloc in reality means the merger of Sabah and Sarawak political blocs dominated by East Malaysian parties.
Leiking said though GRS claimed to be a locally-registered party, it still has peninsula-based Bersatu in its midst. – The Vibes, November 18, 2022
