Bersatu veep: GRS' Sabah-based platform just 'political gimmick'

INTERVIEW | Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee has poured cold water on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) push for a “Sabah-based” political concept, dismissing it as a gimmick given the coalition’s dependence on Putrajaya for seats.

Kiandee (above), who also heads Sabah Bersatu, said GRS had long promoted the idea that local parties could determine their own political future.

“But look at them. They have to come to Kuala Lumpur to meet the prime minister to negotiate seats and discuss the concept of the coalition they want to form.

“This means that even though (GRS chairperson) Hajiji (Noor) is advocating for Sabah-based parties, when it comes to seat negotiations and the coalition concept, they have to see KL,” he told Malaysiakini in Parliament yesterday.

“This shows that the concept GRS wants to sell is merely a gimmick, political in nature, and one they themselves cannot decide on.

“That’s the reality. They have to negotiate seats. Never mind, that’s their business, nothing to do with Perikatan Nasional,” said the six-term Beluran MP.

Meeting at Seri Perdana

On Aug 18, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called a meeting of Pakatan Harapan, BN, and GRS leaders at his Seri Perdana residence, which he later described as a “demonstration of political maturity” to strengthen federal-state cooperation.

Among those present were Hajiji, who is the Sabah chief minister, and BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Notably absent was Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, who has insisted that BN would face off against GRS in the coming state polls despite ongoing negotiations.

Anwar later described the meeting as taking place “in a harmonious atmosphere filled with the spirit of togetherness.”

Bung, however, took to Facebook yesterday to question GRS’ position, sharing photos of senior leaders in attendance and reviving past criticisms of “local parties”.

“Has the local party been drowned in the Malaya wave?

“Where is the loud voice we always used to hear? Any party siding with the Malaya party is a traitor! Is GRS the biggest traitor to the people of Sabah?” wrote the Umno supreme council member.

‘Love triangle’ politics

Commenting on the uneasy ties between Harapan, BN, and GRS, Kiandee said it was for the parties to resolve.

“On the ‘love triangle’, it’s their business. We’re observing from the outside, and Sabahans are also observing from the outside the concept they want to create.

“Just like the last state election, I don’t think it’s going to be smooth. A genuine coalition and understanding will never happen between them.

“We can expect clashes between them in many seats. To form the (state) government, one party needs 37 seats. So it’ll be interesting to see who can achieve that,” he added.

GRS holds 42 of 73 seats in the Sabah assembly. Its eight components include Hajiji’s Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).

Sabah Bersatu was among GRS’ founding members in 2022 but later left following political realignments at the state and federal levels.

Post-election pacts

Asked about Bung’s suggestion that Sabah Umno could contest against GRS but still consider a post-election pact, Kiandee said it was not a new phenomenon.

“That is the concept that has been happening in Sabah since the last state polls.

“There is no pure coalition. Even within a coalition, clashes can happen.

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think a genuine pact among them will happen. It’s interesting to see - I don’t have anything to do with them - but interesting to see how their cooperation will work out,” he added.

Kiandee reiterated that PN would again contest the Sabah election independently, as a four-party coalition of Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, and Malaysian Indian People's Party.

“As far as PN is concerned, we are going on our own, just like the last election. Last election, we had a memorandum of understanding with PBS. For us, we will go alone,” he said.

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