KOTA KINABALU – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice-president Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam has downplayed Sabah Umno’s claim over the Tawau parliamentary seat.
“It’s a free country, they (Umno) can say what they want. I believe that at the end of the day, if we have a coalition or working partner, we can discuss it further,” he told The Vibes.
According to Dr Joachim, PBS can do the same by claiming Penampang, Ranau and Putatan.
Still, he said that all parties must come together to negotiate and reach a consensus on seat distribution.
“When we do find a solution, we then need to work together... otherwise, there is no point (in having electoral cooperation).
“If it’s a free-for-all like the recent Sabah election, there’s nothing much we can do.”
Tawau was a PBS seat until the party failed to retain the seat in the 2018 general election, following Datuk Mary Yap’s loss to Sabah PKR’s Datuk Christina Liew.
In a recently concluded annual general meeting, Tawau Umno planned to field a candidate in the coming general election.
There have been talks that PBS might make a return in Penampang as well as Putatan, given the two seats were originally PBS’ before it went to the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation during Barisan Nasional’s reign in Sabah.
While Tawau is a mixed seat, Penampang is a non-Muslim-Bumiputera-dominated seat, while Putatan is a Muslim-majority seat.
Dr Joachim said the recent state election has been a lesson in disunity for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah parties – Sabah Bersatu, Sabah Umno, Sabah Star, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, and friendly PBS.
He said misunderstandings do exist and the trend of one party undermining another was evident during the recent Sabah polls.
“This trend is not healthy, but then again, this is politics.”
A fight broke out between PBS and Sabah Star during the state election in September after the two clashed in several state seats. – The Vibes, January 6, 2021
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