PBS mulls merger with Star
Published on: Sunday, September 24, 2023
By: Jo Ann Mool
Joachim (front, centre) and PBS Supreme Council leaders with the wanita and Youth delegates.
PENAMPANG: A stronger cooperation between Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) is imperative to ensure victory in the next election, said PBS Deputy President Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
However, he said the cooperation must be genuine and encompass the distribution of power and the allocation of seats.
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“Working together is not a problem, but it must be genuine. Don’t just say we cooperate in everything, but not regarding power distribution. In terms of seat allocation, we need to discuss.
“If there is a stronger cooperation, then the possibility of us winning the next election is bright,” he said when launching the PBS Wanita and Youth Congress at Hongkod Koisaan, here, Saturday.
As far as the leadership is concerned, Joachim said, PBS should work with Star.
“The uniqueness of Star is that most, if not all (in Star), were from PBS. All of them started in PBS and the areas where they are strong are also where we too have a strong influence.
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“Therefore, it is good if we can further strengthen our cooperation,” he said.
Dr Joachim also said the party leadership was leaving it to the Women and Youth delegates to debate the proposal by Star President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for a merger between PBS and Star.
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He said Sabah’s current political landscape has changed, and realistically, one party alone could no longer dominate the whole State.
“We must concede that we need partners to steer the State Government in the future. We must continue strengthening our cooperation in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and the PBS top leadership is fully committed to working hand-in-hand with GRS in the next General Election.
“We must convey our approach to the grassroots so that there will be no confusion between PBS and GRS supporters,” he said.
Dr Joachim, who is Deputy Chief Minister II and Local Government and Housing Minister, urged the party’s Wanita and Youth wings to take stock of President Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili’s call for a rejuvenation of the party.
He said PBS has always been related as an old-fashioned party and a party for older people, and such an assumption was damaging the party’s reputation.
“The party president’s call to rejuvenate PBS is not a mere empty dream. It is an idea that must be realised.
“For your information, the rejuvenation idea does not only relate to having young leaders but is also closely related to having a systematic administration, a new way of campaigning and usage of the digital platform. In short, we must be prepared to change according to time,” he said.
“I believe there are still more fans of PBS. However, we need resilient and strong leaders with integrity. We must start looking for them today, and I am sure many of you are highly educated and knowledgeable.
“The only thing is how do we polish them and get more to lead so that PBS becomes a party that we all be proud of.
“True, we have handsome and beautiful youths and elegant women, but we need more from the younger generation to join PBS’ struggle. We need more young leaders as the next echelon who are committed and with integrity.”
In this respect, Dr Joachim said creative ways were needed to invite new young members.
“We need a new synonym that PBS is a principled party and firm in its struggle. PBS is a multi-racial party, which has been fighting for Sabah rights (MA63) from the beginning, calling for a solution on the Project IC, advocating the anti-hop policy and prioritising border security and local economic prosperity,” he said.
On the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), Dr Joachim said PBS’ struggle has yet to be completed. Still, he assured that as a member of the MA63 working committee, everything was being done, including getting the 40 per cent entitlement from the Federal Government.
“In the working committee, we have asked that it be resolved within one year, that is, in 2024. We are now receiving an interim payment of more than RM300 million yearly, and this was only accepted because, in principle, we want what is rightfully ours as stipulated in the Constitution,” he said.
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