Opposition pours cold water on PBS-Star pact
Published on: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
By:
Jonathan Nicholas, Clarence Dol
Oswald and Terrence
Kota Kinabalu: Both opposition Parti KDM and Parti Warisan downplayed the formal electoral collaboration between Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Rakyat Sabah (Star) for the next state election.
KDM Vice President Dr Oswald Aisat Igau said although the party led by Datuk Peter Anthony is considered a dwarf, they have strong support at the grassroots level.
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Peter is currently embroiled in a corruption trial.
He said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between PBS and Star on Thursday was a last resort to gain support following declining support in the last few elections.
“It is not possible that KDM’s strength will be affected. From what I see, they are desperate to gain voter support.
“What is the relevance of them signing the MoU when they are indeed ‘sister’ parties, ready to cooperate in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). What exactly do they want to show? It’s like there’s no other way.”
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Like PBS and Star, Parti KDM appeals mostly to Kadazan, Dusun, Rungus and Muruts. Star President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said if such cooperation had existed in the last election, both parties would not be having jointly 13 seats today but three times that number.
Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the MoU is an understanding to work together after realising that both parties have the same aspirations.
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However, Dr Oswald claimed both PBS and Star may have realized that they are being increasingly rejected by voters at the grassroots level who want young leaders.
“They may also have forgotten that their leaders have been overthrown, especially PBS where their Vice President at the time (Datuk Radin Malleh) was defeated by the KDM President in Melalap.
“And in the 15th General Election (GE15), even their President (Maximus) was trounced by KDM Deputy President Datuk Wetrom Bahanda,” he said.
Oswald said KDM is already preparing to face the elections even if it is held earlier and would be staking a claim for the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut (KDM) majority seats.
Parti Warisan Vice President Terrence Siambun said any political agreement should always centre on the well-being and interests of the people.
“Clearly, the MoU between PBS and Star aims to serve the interests of their respective parties. It does not reflect inclusiveness and cooperation with the other five component parties in the GRS.
“Is there no dialogue and cooperation among all parties in the GRS to ensure collective participation and equitable representation?”
He said the success of such agreements ultimately depends on their ability to translate into tangible benefits for the people they represent.
He said Sabah is plagued with issues which should remain at the forefront of any political endeavour. While MoUs can play a role in shaping the political landscape, the true measure of success lies in their ability to address the needs and aspirations of the people,” he said.
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