KOTA KINABALU – Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) appears to have backed down from its call for Barisan Nasional (BN), the coalition it is part of, to fly solo in Sabah in the coming 15th general election (GE15).
Although BN has not formalised an electoral pact with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), the alliance that presently rules the state, PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup appears to have kept silent on the matter.
This is especially so after BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had during BN’s Gelombang Biru gathering in Kimanis on Sunday called for the two coalitions to work together in GE15.
In fact, Kurup was last seen at a closed-door Sabah BN meeting also attended by the coalition’s state chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin two nights ago.
Bung Moktar has not responded to PBRS’ call for BN to go solo.
PBRS had earlier called for a fairer distribution of seats in BN and also expressed its intention to meet with Zahid over the matter.
The party’s secretary-general Richard Kastum told The Vibes that there was no question about Zahid’s call for BN and GRS to cooperate.
He also insisted PBRS’ request for a fair allocation of seats was justified.
“We think it is a reasonable request since PBRS has been loyal to BN for so long and also part of the struggle to make BN great again,” he said.
As for PBRS’ call for seats, Kastum said: “We’ll wait. Anyway, asking for seat allocations is normal and all parties are asking the same.”
Asked whether there would be surprises in the allocations, he said: “Making BN win and great again is no surprise.”
Pensiangan had always been the traditional seat alloted for PBRS during BN’s reign and the party is expected to defend the seat again in the coming election.
But ever since the GE14 in 2018 and the crossing over of top leaders into PBRS, the party has also eyed several other federal seats.
The Vibes reliably learnt recently that PBRS is also eyeing Keningau, Tuaran, and Ranau.
This comes after former Warisan candidate for Keningau in GE14, Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin, joined PBRS. Former Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and former Ranau MP Datuk Ewon Ebin also joined PBRS earlier this year.
Bumburing and Ewon were previously Upko leaders who had joined Parti Cinta Sabah, led by Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, before joining PBRS. – The Vibes, October 27, 2022
