PCS-PAN deal on KDM seats
Published on: Saturday, March 17, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) have signed a political pact to face the 14th General Election (EC), a move they said aimed at forming a Sabah native power bloc in the State Assembly to influence policy decisions.Both opposition parties are looking to contest in 22 to 25 Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus seats, including mixed seats.The decision to cooperate was also to avoid a clash between the two native parties in the next election and both sides have agreed to use the PCS symbol in the election.
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"Leaders from both parties have realised that the Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus communities have been victims of disunity. It's sad to see that we've been so disunited that we are identified by the alphabets KDMR."The political pact between PCS and Anak Negeri aims at uniting the natives and after the election we will work towards a permanent merger of both parties," said PCS President Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing during the signing ceremony, Friday.He said both parties have not closed the door on the possibility of collaborating with others in the opposition, particularly Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan Sabah, although they have been accused of being sponsored by the Barisan Nasional (BN). He pointed out that in politics anything can happen.
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"When you are nearing an election, there's a tendency to see changes, which is normal," he said, citing an example of the DAP and Warisan which are collaborating despite having previously locked horns.But he stressed that although the door for negotiation with other parties remains open, no party in the opposition should contest in more than 50 per cent of the total number of seats in the State.
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"Based on this principle, we're ready to negotiate with Pakatan Harapan and Warisan not only on seat negotiation but also in terms of power sharing when we form the Government. It must be equitable," he said.Despite the pact's readiness to collaborate, Bumburing still took aim at Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal for accusing him of having met with the Prime Minister and for never attacking the BN, saying the latter's "words of lies do not augur well for a leader who aspires to be the Chief Minister of Sabah."Meanwhile, Anak Negeri President Hernyrus Amin said both parties are willing to kiss and make up with their accusers."Regardless of what people say against one another, at the end of the day, I think we need to be pragmatic enough to be able to compromise. I look forward to seeing him (Bumburing) to meet Warisan after this," he said, adding that good politicians know when to compromise.But he sounded like he was still sore over the accusation that Anak Negeri had been paid by Umno."Those who say I receive money and that I work for Umno, (I want them to) come and show me. Tell me who did I meet, who gave the money and how much. I will sue you in court and I want you to account for your words and action."Just because we don't have money and we don't do roadshows, (while) you can spend RM300,000 for your roadshows, you accuse us of receiving money from Umno. We also use crowdfunding and ask from friends," he said.He added that his party and PCS can still work with Warisan but "not for" the party.Both parties, however, said they will not work with Gabungan Sabah, an alliance comprising Star, SAPP, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah."The difference between us and Star or Gabungan Sabah is that they are anti-Malaya and anti-federal and friendly to the SSKM (Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia separatist movement). We are against Umno and the Barisan Nasional but we can't go against the institution of the Agong, the Federal Government and the Constitution," said Henrynus.He also said that they cannot work with Gabungan Sabah as it "has come up with ridiculous policies". Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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