Pairin urges Sabahans to ‘stand up' and back local parties over national coalitions
Speaking candidly to the media at the PBS-Sabah Star convention, Pairin warned Sabahans not to lose control of their home and urged youth to 'wake up' and stand up for the state's future.
His message comes as the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition considers contesting solo without federal partners.
'The most important thing Sabahans must decide for this (upcoming) election is to ensure we have a government based on local parties,' said Pairin, whose face showed clear signs of frustration.
'Not parties from Malaya (national-based parties),' he added.
Pairin, once a symbol of Sabah's political autonomy, expressed frustration that Sabah has been sidelined in decision-making and urged voters not to let others decide their destiny.
In 1985, just a week after founding PBS, Pairin led the party to a shock victory over the ruling Berjaya government, marking a historic moment for Kadazandusun leadership and Sabah's political autonomy.
However, after nearly a decade in power, PBS lost control in 1994 following the defection of several assemblypersons to BN.
Addressing Sabah's youths, he said, 'Wake up. This is your home. Do not just let others decide your future while you stay quiet. Stand up for Sabah.' —July 13, 2025
Main image: Alchetron
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Prioritise youths' aspirations, Star and PBS told
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 Text Size: Prem said the study also revealed that ideologies such as 'Sabah for Sabahans' and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) resonate strongly with this group. Kota Kinabalu: The leadership of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) should focus on youth-related issues in preparation for the 2025 state elections (PRN 2025), as recent statistics show that Malaysians aged 18-39 make up 50.47pc of the country's total electorate. Star Sabah Assistant Secretary-General, Prem Bechile Kitingan, said that this shift in voter demographics was highlighted in a study conducted by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), presented by Associate Professor Dr. Bonaventure Boniface at the PBS-Star Convention last Saturday. Advertisement 'Through the 2019 Constitutional Amendment, Malaysians aged 18 and above are automatically registered as voters, which also qualifies them to become election candidates,' said Prem, who is also the Director of the Sokid Villa Solidarity Research Centre. Prem added that in Sabah, this demographic tends to favour election candidates who understand youth sentiment, are free from corruption, uphold strong religious values, and possess credibility and integrity. The study, conducted by 10 UMS academics led by Associate Professor Dr Lai Yew Meng, was presented to the public for the first time. The research team included Dr. Budi Anto Mohd Tamring, Dr. Shaffarullah Abdul Rahman, Dr Amy Azuan Abdullah, and Dr Yusten Karulus, all of whom were also present at the convention. The number of young voters in Sabah in 2024 is 910,471 (53%), a 23pc increase from 485,939 in 2022. Prem said the study also revealed that ideologies such as 'Sabah for Sabahans' and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) resonate strongly with this group. They are drawn to capable and integrity-driven local leaders, prefer coalitions of local parties over solo local parties, and are not attracted to the 3R ideology (religion, race, and royalty). 'Young voters also support efforts to resolve issues related to dilapidated schools, having qualified teachers for subjects and infrastructure needs such as roads, water, electricity and rural internet access,' he said. Despite being active users of social media, this group still considers parental influence in shaping their political stance. However, they also have a strong sense of state identity, prioritising the candidate's ideology over party struggles. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Daily Express
Bung rules out election talks with GRS
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 Text Size: 'So I do not care about this GRS,' said Bung. KINABATANGAN: Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin reiterated his stance of not entering into any negotiations with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ahead of the coming 17th state election. He said as far as Umno was concerned, many GRS leaders could not be trusted and had breached signed agreements. Advertisement Asked about GRS' direction for the polls, Bung said if the coalition has decided, it should just go ahead and say so without further twists and turns. 'It's not that difficult. I have said many times, I do not trust and have no confidence in GRS,' he said, adding that leaders who jump from one party to another are traitors who only think for themselves, and would eventually betray the people. 'So I do not care about this GRS,' said Bung. Over the weekend, there was a growing push from grassroots supporters in Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah Star for the ruling coalition to go into the polls on its own. With the Sabah State Legislative Assembly due to be dissolved by Nov 11, political parties have been locked in discussions over possible electoral pacts. The situation remains fluid amid local political rivalries and a groundswell of support for Sabah to regain its autonomous rights through local parties. GRS is in a coalition with Sabah Pakatan Harapan in the State Government, while Barisan Nasional remains in the opposition in Sabah. Sabah Barisan and Sabah Pakatan are discussing an electoral pact, while Hajiji is keen to work with Sabah Pakatan, without Barisan. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Mohd Fuad is first Sabahan to be the state's MACC director
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) Penang director, Datuk Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah, is set to take over as Sabah MACC director, replacing Datuk Karunanithy Subbiah. Fuad, the first Sabahan to hold the post, is expected to take over in the first week of August, according to MACC officials, as congratulatory messages were shared on social media. Karunanithy, the longest-serving director at Sabah MACC, having held the position since March 2019, will be the commission's Penang director. Fuad had previously served in Sabah and was an integrity officer with the Chief Minister's Department in 2019. Most state MACC directors serve two to three years in each posting. A predecessor, Abdul Aziz Abdul Jalil, also served for about six years as the state director between 1970 and 1976, when the graft-buster was still the Anti-Corruption Agency. When contacted on Monday (July 14), Karunanithy confirmed that he will be transferred and expects the handing over of duties ceremony to be on Aug 7. "Many Sabahans will be happy and proud with Fuad's appointment as Sabah director," he said.
