Unified political approach needed in Sabah, says Joniston Bangkuai

The Star

19-07-2025

KOTA KINABALU: Politicians working together can bring better development and political stability to a government than acting alone, says Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief stated that parties opting to run solo in the upcoming state elections are not acting in the people's best interests.
Speaking to villagers at a meet-the-people session in Kiulu on Saturday (July 19), he said the unified approach under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has proven effective in governing the state inclusively and stably, with a focus on long-term development.
"The GRS government is moving in the same direction as the GPS government in Sarawak, which is formed by local parties representing all races. This approach is the best for Sabah," said Bangkuai.
"If we look at Sarawak, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) holds a clear majority but still chooses to work with other parties to develop the socio-economy of Sarawak jointly. Not alone," he said.
On Parti Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia's (KDM) plan to stand alone, he called it a political tactic that goes against the aspirations of Sabahans.
"We do not deny any party's right to stand on its own, but at the end of the day, the people will judge based on results," Bangkuai said, adding that stability can only be achieved when local parties work together, not compete against each other.
"If we want to bring about a mature political approach, it must be followed by a willingness to work together and compromise, not move alone and deny collective strength," he added.
He also reminded the public how Warisan and KDM had been willing to collude with Umno in an attempt to topple the state government led by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, which he said prioritised personal political interests over the state's stability.
"Such actions do not reflect leadership that puts people first but rather undermine public confidence and distract from the focus on the development agenda," Bangkuai said.
He reiterated that under Hajiji's leadership, the GRS government has shown that a coalition of local parties can function well and has achieved many successes, such as increasing state reserves and rolling out welfare initiatives.