PENAMPANG: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) said Friday it will not be fielding a candidate in the coming Kimanis by-election and will support any party or individual who opposed the present Warisan-led State Government.PBS President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pic) said the decision was made after much consideration and detailed study of voter sentiments in the parliamentary constituency.
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“Despite being a multiracial party with a substantial following in the constituency, we have decided not to contest. The decision was to support the view among opposition parties that a split in votes among supporters would give an advantage to the ruling coalition,” he told reporters after chairing the party’s political bureau meeting at the party headquarters in Donggongon township, here.
Ongkili, however, said the party has set conditions for the opposition candidates who would receive its support, stressing that they (candidates) must be committed towards fighting for Sabah’s rights.
“The candidate must be a vocal fighter and defender of Sabah’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and must be a brave protector of Sabah against illegal immigrants and intruders of our territorial land.
“The candidate must also oppose policies and programmes that compromise the security of Sabah and threaten the citizenship rights of original Sabahans.”
Ongkili added that the party would also support candidates who were against the Federal Government’s implementation of the Temporary Sabah Pass (PSS).
“To us in PBS, the PSS is an ultimate threat to our citizenship rights and a form of formalising illegal immigrants to live permanently in Sabah, and subsequently granting them citizenship which would be detrimental to Sabahans’ livelihood,” he said.
Ongkili said PBS would publicly express its political support to the right candidate after the nomination day.
He said PBS would begin mobilising its election machinery on Monday, adding that the party has over 3,000 active members across 60 branches in Bongawan and Membakut within Kimanis.
When asked if Alamin met the party’s criteria, Ongkili said the Sabah Umno candidate’s views on illegal immigrants and State rights when he was the Bongawan representative were not in line with the PBS’ criteria.
“But we will support any party or individual(s) who are opposed to the present Warisan-led State Government,” he said.
When asked about Sabah-Umno’s co-operation with PAS under the Muafakat Nasional, Ongkili said PBS will observe first and decide later.
