KOTA KINABALU – Another fight over a parliamentary seat between allies Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) has erupted, this time for the Pensiangan seat as a component of the former claims to have more support from voters.
Sabah STAR deputy president Datuk Ellron Angin said that Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, the secretary-general of lead GRS outfit Bersatu, had promised during the state election in 2020 to let his party contest the seat.
He claimed that a majority of local parties are behind Sabah STAR on this matter.
The constituency is also claimed by Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), a BN component.
“They (PBRS) can contest but the problem is: can they win? We fear that this seat will fall to the opposition.
“It is true (that GRS is working with BN in Sabah), but they are not one of our components,” he said at a press conference recently.
Ellron also alleged that incumbent Pensiangan MP Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, who is PBRS deputy president, has not worked with the state representatives there to develop the constituency as a team.
“We were supposed to be a team in developing Pensiangan, but this was not done and we are also sad,” he said.
All three state seats in Pensiangan are under Sabah STAR. They are Sook (held by Ellron), Nabawan (Datuk Bobbey Ah Fang Suan), and Tulid (Datuk Flovia Ng).
“We are claiming to contest in Pensiangan because we know our position and are confident with our support. We can win. We also have component parties like PBS supporting us,” he added.
Last Friday, Sabah STAR president and GRS deputy chairman Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said a GRS candidate should contest Pensiangan. He noted that an electoral pact between GRS and BN has yet to be formalised.
He proposed a friendly contest, saying GRS should get the opportunity to contest in accordance with the grassroots’ wishes as PBRS is not part of the state ruling coalition.
On the other hand, Kurup, who had previously urged BN to go solo in Sabah, appears to have backed down from the demand and has now kept silent on the matter. – The Vibes, October 30, 2022
