KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan is not dismissing the possibility that issues may arise in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) during the upcoming election now that the alliance has expanded into a seven-party bloc.
He said not all parties could field candidates, but instead provide a bigger supporters’ pool for GRS.
“If you’re a political party it does not mean you have to contest. This means you will have a bigger support pool,” he told reporters here during the launch of the TV Sabah mobile app today.
GRS now comprises seven parties, namely Gagasan Rakyat, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party, United Sabah National Organisation, Sabah Star, and their latest inclusions, Liberal Demokratik Party and Harapan Rakyat Sabah.
The alliance is predicted to share the 73 Sabah seats in the upcoming state election scheduled in 2025.
Kitingan, who is Sabah Star president, said GRS’ expansion can be seen as both a negative or positive development, and GRS is looking at it from a positive angle.
“If you want to create unity in our state, we need to accommodate as many political parties as possible.
“Their becoming part of the GRS coalition is part of this move,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kitingan said the launch of the TV Sabah mobile app is a prelude to the state establishing its own television station.
He said Sabah was already behind in terms of broadcasting and that the state had to “start somewhere”.
Kitingan said Sabah has over 60 content providers, but only two or three programmes are aired on national television stations.
“This is why we are starting from an online platform. This has been brought up to the cabinet. One day, the state will give full backing to the realisation of TV Sabah,” said the deputy chief minister, adding that the station will eventually come under the Chief Minister’s Department.
Two years ago, Kitingan had also proposed the establishment of a multimedia commission. – The Vibes, April 21, 2023
