Sabah Polls: PBS Rejects Cooperation With BN
KOTA KINABALU, June 26 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has rejected political cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election.
PBS acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the decision was made after the majority of the party's Supreme Council (AMT) members disagreed with collaborating with BN in the coming state election.
Joachim said PBS also reiterated its stance to remain loyal to the ruling coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), for the upcoming polls.
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'Our position is clear. PBS will continue working within the GRS coalition and remains committed to this political cooperation ahead of the state election.
'PBS also reaffirms its commitment to strengthening ties and collaboration with GRS component party Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (StarSabah), led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan,' he said in a statement today.
The current five-year term of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly will expire on November 11.

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Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said overlapping seat claims with GRS in areas such as Pantai Dalit and Tanjong Keramat were a major hurdle to cooperation. PETALING JAYA : Sabah Umno is open to working with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the upcoming state election, but only if the ruling coalition is sincere in its approach to seat negotiations, says its chief Bung Moktar Radin. Claiming GRS tended to change its stance once an agreement had been reached, Bung said: 'We are still open to working with any local party, but they must be sincere. We don't want insincerity. 'What I mean by insincerity is that we agree on something today, then tomorrow they change their stand or change their decision on seats or put their candidates as independents for seats which we are contesting,' Bung told FMT. Bung said overlapping seat claims in places such as Pantai Dalit and Tanjong Keramat were making negotiations harder. 'That's why GRS has to be sincere when it negotiates with us,' he said. 'Our doors are still open. It is not too widely open and neither is it tightly shut.' However, Bung said Umno did not expect major problems with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) over seat distribution, as the two coalitions typically contested in different areas – PH in urban seats, and Umno in rural constituencies. He added that Sabah Umno was looking to contest in 35 seats, up from 32 in the last state election. Bung's latest comments mark a shift from his stance earlier this month, where he reportedly said that Sabah Umno would not work with GRS and would consider cooperation only after the outcome of the polls. Barisan Nasional and PH earlier announced an alliance for the Sabah polls, which must be held by the end of the year. However, the alliance prompted GRS to threaten to go solo. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim then stepped in and called for PH-BN to work with the state coalition. Masiung Banah, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah vice-president, was reported to have said that GRS was expected to contest at least 53 seats, while PH would go for 20 under their electoral pact. GRS and PH are currently allies in the Hajiji Noor state government, while BN sits in the opposition in the Sabah legislative assembly.


Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
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PBS rejects working with BN in Sabah polls
PBS acting president Joachim Gunsalam said the party would remain loyal to GRS and strengthen ties with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR). (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has ruled out working with Barisan Nasional (BN) for the upcoming 17th Sabah state elections. Acting president Joachim Gunsalam said the decision was made after a majority of the party's Supreme Council members voted against forming an alliance with BN, Bernama reported. He said PBS remains committed to the ruling coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). 'PBS also reiterates its commitment to strengthening ties and cooperation with GRS component Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), led by Jeffrey Kitingan,' he was quoted as saying in a statement today. BN and Pakatan Harapan have announced an alliance for the Sabah polls, prompting GRS to threaten to go solo. GRS and PH are currently allies in the Hajiji Noor state government, while BN sits in the opposition in the Sabah legislative assembly. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as PH chairman, has since called for PH-BN to work with the state coalition. Sabah Umno, which previously rejected working with GRS, recently said it was open to a collaboration if the ruling coalition approaches seat negotiations with sincerity. The current term of the Sabah state assembly expires on Nov 11.

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8 hours ago
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Sabah Polls: PBS Rejects Cooperation With BN
KOTA KINABALU, June 26 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has rejected political cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election. PBS acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the decision was made after the majority of the party's Supreme Council (AMT) members disagreed with collaborating with BN in the coming state election. Joachim said PBS also reiterated its stance to remain loyal to the ruling coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), for the upcoming polls. bootstrap slideshow 'Our position is clear. PBS will continue working within the GRS coalition and remains committed to this political cooperation ahead of the state election. 'PBS also reaffirms its commitment to strengthening ties and collaboration with GRS component party Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (StarSabah), led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan,' he said in a statement today. The current five-year term of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly will expire on November 11.