Mustapha rebuked for calling GRS a liability to PH

Borneo Post

15 hours ago

Jasnih
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 17): Pantai Dalit Assemblyman Datuk Jasnih Daya has criticised Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud for describing Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as a liability to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Jasnih, who is also Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Pantai Dalit Division chief, said Mustapha's statement was baseless and potentially damaging to the unity of government coalition partners.
'I am not sure what the basis, motive or objective is for him to label GRS as a liability to PH,' he said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
He noted that he has many friends in PKR and PH, but such remarks are rare. He urged Mustapha to be more cautious when making public statements, stressing that reckless comments could backfire.
'Do not get carried away when giving statements, especially those that only highlight weaknesses and damage yourself. Most importantly, do not be a spoiler,' Jasnih said.
He also warned that excessive confidence could lead to arrogance, which would undermine a leader's credibility.
'Overconfidence leads to arrogance… and remember, no one is irreplaceable,' he said.
Jasnih further advised that differing views should be resolved internally through party channels and leadership structures, instead of being aired publicly in a way that fuels unnecessary polemics.
'If that is what you truly feel, discuss it properly with your leader. InshaAllah, if it is for the best… then we just carry it out,' he said.
He reiterated that political stability in Sabah must remain a top priority, as it is closely tied to development initiatives and the wellbeing of the people under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) policy.
Meanwhile, PKR Papar division's women's movement has called for a more mature and responsible political culture, urging leaders to prioritise the people's welfare over rhetoric.
Its chief, Shakila Ismail, was responding to remarks by Gagasan Rakyat Youth Kawang Division against Mustapha.
Shakila stressed that Mustapha's views should be regarded as part of a healthy and responsible political discourse, not as a political attack.
'Datuk Mustapha's perspective is part of a healthy political dialogue. It should not be seen as an attack, but as a reminder that political cooperation in Sabah must truly benefit the people, especially women, children, and rural communities,' she said.
She also cautioned against politicising the recent tragedy involving the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, a 13-year-old student from Papar.
'As leaders, the tragedy of the late Zara Qairina should never be used as a political tool. Instead, all Malaysians and the authorities must unite to uphold justice and implement institutional reforms to prevent such cases from happening again,' she said.
According to her, political leaders must show exemplary conduct by engaging in respectful, solution-focused politics rather than finger-pointing.
'We must lead by example, practising politics with wisdom and maturity, focusing on solutions and not rhetoric or blame. The people will judge leaders based on their actions, honesty, and sincerity in defending them,' she said.
In her statement, Shakila also outlined three key calls from the movement: prioritising welfare and safety with no compromise in protecting students, women and children; strengthening political cooperation to ensure stability and development in Sabah while safeguarding state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63); and amplifying Sabah's voice at the national level through the Unity Government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
'PKR Sabah women's movement remains principled yet firm. Politics must continue to serve as a platform to defend the people, not as a battleground that undermines public confidence,' she emphasised.