Parties going solo undermine Sabah's political stability and unity - Joniston

Borneo Post

3 days ago

Joniston officiates the symbolic launch of Papawantai Taasok, a community thanksgiving event.
KIULU (July 19): Local political parties that choose to go it alone in the upcoming state election are not aligning with the people's need for political stability and strong local cooperation, said Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said the unified approach under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has proven effective in governing the state in an inclusive, stable and focused manner 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.
'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.
Joniston, who is the GRS and PBS information chief, made the remarks during a meet-the-people session and Papawantai Taasok ceremony here on Saturday.
Reacting to Warisan and PKDM's plan to stand alone, Joniston called it a political tactic that goes against the aspirations of the Sabah people.
'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.
'Stability can only be achieved when local parties choose to work together, not compete among themselves.
'If we want to bring about a mature (politics) approach, it must be followed by a willingness to work together and compromise … not move alone and deny collective strength,' he added.
Joniston also reminded the public how Warisan and PKDM had been willing to collude with Umno in an attempt to topple the government led by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, which he said clearly reflected a prioritisation of personal political interests over the state's stability.
'Such actions do not reflect leadership that puts people first, but rather only undermine public confidence and distract from the focus on the development agenda,' he said.
He reiterated that under Hajiji's leadership, the GRS government has shown that a coalition of local parties can function well and has even achieved many achievements, such as increasing state reserves and rolling out welfare initiatives.
In Kiulu, Joniston said rural development continues to be driven under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap, including agricultural road upgrades to improve access to farms and villages.
'We acknowledge that more still needs to be done, and we do not deny the existence of challenges such as water, electricity and infrastructure, but we take full responsibility and are committed to moving forward,' he said.
He called on the people to continue supporting leadership that has delivered tangible results and not be swayed by political decisions made in the interests of certain parties that could harm state stability.