KOTA KINABALU – The logo of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) alliance will still represent parties in the state government and other components of the broader Perikatan Nasional coalition (PN) in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).
According to Sabah Star president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, the GRS logo will be used despite PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday maintaining that all parties in the coalition will use the same logo in GE15.
Both men are vice-presidents of PN as well as deputy chairmen of GRS.
GRS was formed to replace PN after the Sabah election in 2020. The state alliance comprises Sabah Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah, SAPP, Sabah Star, and the United Sabah National Organisation.
Sabah Star’s Kitingan simply replied with a “no” when approached by The Vibes about whether the PN logo will be used by GRS member parties.
No. In Sabah (we) all use the GRS logo,” he said.
The same reply was given by SAPP’s Yong.
“In Sabah, we use the GRS symbol,” he said.
Yesterday, in response to a call by Terengganu PAS executive councillor Ariffin Deraman to excuse Terengganu, Kelantan, and Kedah from using the PN logo, Muhyiddin had said: “We will discuss further whether to use a different logo. But personally, I prefer to use one logo, because previously, we used the logo in state elections and it turned out okay.”
Questions have since arisen about whether the former prime minister’s statement applies to PN’s component parties in Sabah.
Political analyst Lee Kuok Tiung said he strongly believes Muhyiddin’s statement does not refer to Sabah and Sarawak, but only to parties from the peninsula.
Muhyiddin has already given the green light to Sabah to form the GRS alliance and this means the component parties were allowed to use their own symbol,” he said.
He noted that Sabah PAS is not a component of either GRS or Sabah Barisan Nasional.
Still, he said Sabah PAS has proposed names as candidates to GRS, but the party does not expect them to be fielded in GE15.
“But Sabah PAS will likely give its support to Bersatu and Umno in Sabah,” he said. – The Vibes, October 8, 2022
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