PBS Youth chief calls for solidarity, warns against division before state polls
KOTA KINABALU (April 30): Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth chief Christopher Mandut has called for unity — not division — within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as the Sabah state election draws near.
'Our priority must be given to strength and unity, not to reopening divisions,' he said in a statement on today.
Mandut added that United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia's recent remarks concerning USNO's position within GRS should be viewed in the spirit of openness.
He also reminded that GRS was born out of the collective effort of Sabah parties to unite following a period of political uncertainty.
'Under the collective leadership of the component party presidents, led by Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, we have built a new home. This home may not be as grand as the one we once shared, but it has been built upon the spirit and trust shared among Sabahans. This is our home — let us not break it apart,' he urged.
Mandut added that GRS has demonstrated that value and respect within a coalition are not measured solely by the number of seats held.
'Several parties without representation in the State Legislative Assembly have still been entrusted with key roles, both in state administration and in representing Sabah on regional platforms. This reflects the sincerity and inclusive leadership style embraced by GRS.
'Therefore, when voices of concern arise in the lead-up to the election season, it is only fair to ask calmly: are these anxieties rooted in principle, or do they stem from shifting political winds?' he said.
He reminded that differences of opinion are natural.
'However, they must be handled with wisdom — as befits a statesman. We must not allow minor anxieties today to fracture the trust painstakingly built among GRS members, and more importantly, among the people who now place their hopes in us.'
He added that Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Tan Sri Anifah Aman, who is also a GRS statesman, once remarked in the Dewan Rakyat: 'What is the point of leaping from a large house to a smaller one, unless the large house has no room for us — and if so, why not?'
'Once, we lived together in that larger house. But today, we have built our own smaller home. It may not be as luxurious, but it is ours — and it is we who must protect it.
'History does not merely record who prevailed in times of ease, but who endured and stood united in times of trial. In times of calm, all may appear as leaders — but in moments of crisis, true stewardship is revealed,' he said.
'As a member of the younger generation within GRS, I sincerely hope that all leaders of this coalition — including respected figures such as Tan Sri Pandikar — will continue to be seen as unifiers of the people of Sabah, not otherwise.
'Let us preserve this unity. This small house may not be perfect, but it is our home. And the future of Sabah depends on how well we care for it — together,' he said.
Recently, Pandikar expressed USNO's dissatisfaction, alleging that the party has been sidelined within GRS.
'We hope the top leadership of GRS will consider USNO, even though we are seen as a 'mosquito' party,' he added.
He warned that if USNO continued to be marginalised, the party would have no choice but to contest independently.
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