Usno feels belittled within GRS, says president, warning it may be forced to contest solo

The Star

29-04-2025

Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia delivering his speech during Usno's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Sandakan.
KOTA KINABALU: United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) has warned that it may be forced to contest solo in the upcoming state election if it continues to be belittled and sidelined within the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
Party president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia's unhappiness stems from what he described as a dismissive attitude by some leaders within GRS, who questioned Usno's right to demand seats despite the party's efforts to build grassroots support across Sabah.
"I am not satisfied when I hear friends asking, how can Usno ask for seats when they claim we have no movement, no support on the ground," he said during the party's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Sandakan recently.
"We hope the top leadership of GRS will consider Usno, even though we are seen as a 'mosquito' party," he added.
Pandikar warned that if the sidelining continued, Usno would have no choice but to contest independently.
"In politics, there are conditions and possibilities. Like what (Datuk Seri) Dr Jeffrey (Kitingan) said, today we are friends, tomorrow we might be rivals.
"It is not because Usno wants to contest solo, but because we are forced by the situation of being sidelined," he said.
Pandikar also said that in today's political landscape, party branding mattered less than the ability to win seats.
"Politics in Malaysia is no longer like before. Today, politics does not look at the party, does not look at anything.
"As long as you have a seat, even if you are an independent, you can strengthen a group that becomes the chief minister.
"It doesn't matter if the person knows nothing. What is valuable now is the number," he said.
He said Usno's momentum would continue with more grassroots engagements planned across Semporna, Kota Kinabalu, Petagas, Tanjung Keramat, Banggi and Pitas.
Pandikar also warned that political leaders must not underestimate the growing aspiration among younger voters for a Sarawak-style political model, where local parties dominate without external interference.
"Voters today are not like five or 10 years ago. Before, if you wore a songkok and stood under the Barisan Nasional logo, you would win. Now, even big parties can lose to independents," he said.
"If leaders misread this aspiration, we will be watering the seeds of rebellion," he added.
Reflecting on internal dynamics within GRS, Pandikar said rivalry among parties was inevitable.
"In a big group like GRS, we treat each other like siblings. But even among siblings, there is rivalry – rivalry to get the attention of the head of the family," he said.
GRS currently comprises Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Homeland Solidarity Party, Usno, Sabah Progressive Party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party and Parti Cinta Sabah.
Usno, which officially joined GRS in May 2022, currently does not hold any state or federal seats in Sabah.