PBS, Star ink MOU to strengthen Sabah pact ahead of state polls

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at, among other things, further strengthening Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

This strategic cooperation intends to ensure that GRS continues to lead the state government after the upcoming 17th Sabah state election.

Star president and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II Jeffrey Kitingan said the strategic cooperation between PBS and Star has the full support of GRS chairperson and Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

“This collaboration is a positive sign as it strengthens GRS further,” he said in his speech before the signing ceremony at Hongkod Koisaan, Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association in Penampang yesterday.

Jeffrey (above), PBS vice-president Joachim Gunsalam, Star secretary-general Edward Linggu and PBS secretary-general Julita Majungki signed the MOU, witnessed by PBS premier adviser Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

A few months ago, PBS and Star conducted negotiations to ensure no conflicts occurred between the two parties in the state election.

Jeffrey said through the MOU, PBS and Star also agreed to establish a joint leadership council as a mechanism for policy-making and decision-making, as well as cooperation in managing and providing training to members and machinery of both parties.

Additionally, a joint task force has been formed to identify seats that both parties can contest in the state election, although it is still too early to discuss the number of seats.

No threat to other parties

Joachim emphasised that the cooperation between PBS and Star is not a threat to other parties within GRS but aims to strengthen and ensure the coalition’s success in the polls.

He said both parties are studying the possibility of seats to contest, with discussions also to be held with other parties within GRS.

However, he said the 13 seats held by PBS and Star are considered fixed seats and cannot be negotiated.

The last state election saw Star and PBS each winning six and seven seats in the state legislative assembly, respectively.

The coalition consists of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party, PBS, Star, United Sabah National Organisation, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and the Liberal Democratic Party.

‘Not a failure’

Last month, Hajiji dismissed claims that the coalition and Pakatan Harapan Plus government he leads has been a letdown and failed to bring development to the state.

The chief minister said the opposition, especially Warisan, should look at its own performance during its two-year reign before accusing the GRS-Harapan Plus government of being a failure.

He said the then-Warisan government under Shafie Apdal as the chief minister would not have been rejected by the people in the last state election if it had brought development to the state.

- Bernama

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