GRS must lead Sabah's political direction, says Joniston

Borneo Post

3 days ago

Joniston
KIULU (Aug 1): It is crucial for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to be dominant and control the political narratives in Sabah in any form of pact with national-based parties, said its information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said this would be in line with the sentiment and aspirations of the majority of Sabahans who have publicly expressed support for a local-led coalition to spearhead the state's future.
'We must not ignore the voices of the people as the growing sentiment for local-based parties to take the lead is real and must be respected, but in addressing this, we must also act with wisdom and foresight,' he said at a meeting with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) grassroot leaders here.
Joniston, who also serves as PBS information chief, stressed that any political decisions made must be guided by Sabah's long-term interests rather than emotions or external pressure.
He said that while GRS has worked well with federal partners such as PH, moving forward, any form of cooperation must be anchored on a clear and binding commitment to Sabah's rights.
This, he said, is in particular, the long-standing demand for the return of 40 per cent net revenue collected by the federal government from the state.
'If there is to be any continued cooperation, it must come with formal assurances. Sabah's rights must be respected and delivered, not just talked about during elections,' said the Kiulu assemblyman.
Joniston also said negotiations on seat allocations must be based on fair discussions that reflect the strength and support of Sabah-based parties.
He stressed that while GRS continues to lead the state government in cooperation with PH, any future collaboration must align with the aspirations of the Sabah people and uphold mutual respect.
'We value our cooperation with our partners at the national level, but Sabahans must be in the driver's seat in shaping the future of the state.
'It's about striking the right balance between unity and autonomy. Even now, GRS is leading the State government, working with PH based on shared understanding.
'What we must avoid, however, is making decisions that risk losing the people's trust, such as entertaining alliances with parties that once disrupted the state government's stability,' he said.
Reflecting on the PBS political journey, Joniston said past experiences have shaped the party's approach to remain firm in defending Sabah's rights while maintaining constructive relations with the federal government.
He noted that although PBS was known for its strong stance in fighting for State rights during its nine years in power from 1985 to 1994, the current political environment calls for a more strategic and united way of working within GRS and in engagements with Putrajaya.