SABAH Barisan Nasional has flatly denied extending any political olive branch to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) ahead of the looming state election, with Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin describing PBS’s recent remarks as “political theatrics” and “hallucination”.
In a blistering statement issued Friday, Bung Moktar accused PBS of inventing a narrative of rejecting Barisan overtures in a bid to appear politically relevant.
“I read with amusement the statement by Datuk Seri Dr Joachim claiming that PBS is rejecting cooperation with Barisan,” The Star reported him saying. “Let me state this clearly: Sabah Barisan has never at any point extended an invitation to PBS to return or collaborate. So, the question arises—what exactly are you rejecting?”
Describing PBS as a diminished force, Bung claimed the party had lost its political weight and credibility through years of opportunism and shifting loyalties.
“Once hailed as a defender of Sabah rights, PBS today is but a fading shadow of its former self,” he said. “Its political identity has eroded through years of inconsistency, jumping coalitions, shifting allegiances, and betraying partners when convenient.”
He also accused PBS of attempting to portray itself as a sought-after player in state politics to mask its decline in relevance.
“In reality, PBS has become politically insignificant. It is no longer a leader in Sabah’s political scene… merely a passenger clinging to the coattails of other parties in the GRS government,” Bung asserted.
He reiterated that Sabah Barisan remains open only to alliances with parties that demonstrate consistency, credibility, and principled leadership.
“Sabah Barisan does not pursue alliances with parties that lack a clear political compass or credibility. PBS chose to abandon Barisan in the past for its own expedient interests. That chapter is closed.”
Bung urged PBS to drop the theatrics and instead engage on substantive matters concerning the people of Sabah.
“This is not the 1990s. Voters today are informed and discerning. There is no need to fabricate stories of rejecting Barisan when no overtures were ever made,” he said, adding that political maturity and focus on real issues should take precedence over “imagined grandeur”.- June 27, 2025
