Bung the last person to talk about loyalty
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has responded to Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's latest remarks, labelling them arrogant and disconnected from Sabah's political landscape.
"Bung is the last person who should talk about loyalty or sincerity. He tried to bring down the very government he was part of, just to serve his own ambition. That speaks volumes," he said.
He rejected Bung's claim that GRS betrayed Barisan Nasional (BN), calling it a clear attempt to distort the facts and shift blame.
"It's Bung who conspired with Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat
(PKDM) in January 2023 to topple the government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
"He wasn't betrayed, he was the one doing the betraying. Even while sitting in the state Cabinet,he had no respect for his colleagues in the state government led by Hajiji as Chief Minister."
Joniston added that GRS was never reliant on Umno.
"If anyone needs to reflect, it's Bung. Why did even your own colleagues abandon your 'Langkah Kinabalu'? Why did PH support Hajiji, not you? The answer is obvious because the trust wasn't with you," he said.
"Sabah isn't your political lifeline. Don't treat this state like your fallback plan," he said.
Earlier today, Bung had said Sabah Umno will not cooperate with GRS for the 17th state election.
He stressed that the party will only consider any form of cooperation with GRS after the election.
Bung claimed that the bitter experience of working with GRS in the past has made Sabah Umno more cautious in forming political alliances, especially with the Sabah-based coalition, in orderto avoid being betrayed again.
He had earlier announced BN's cooperation with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH), even before any formal decision was made by the top leadership of both coalitions.
The collaboration was later formalised through a joint statement by leaders from both BN and PH at the federal level.
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