PBS, STAR want GRS to contest solo in Sabah polls

New Straits Times

21 hours ago

PENAMPANG: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) have agreed that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) should contest solo in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election.
This shared stance was affirmed by PBS acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan when met by the media after the PBS-STAR Convention held at Hongkod Koisaan, Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) here today.
Both leaders, who are also GRS deputy chairmen, agreed there should be no clash of seats between PBS and STAR, in line with the parties' Kadazandusun Murut (KDM)-based collaboration heading into PRN17.
Dr Joachim said both parties would remain in GRS and would not leave the coalition to contest independently, describing such a move as "political suicide."
He said that he was open to GRS forming alliances with other parties, but stressed that the Sabah-based coalition must remain dominant.
"If PBS and STAR contest solo, it would be a disease.
"But if it's GRS, that's fine. PBS is still with GRS.
"Yes, we can cooperate with any party, but GRS must be dominant, that's the key," he said.
Dr Joachim, who is also Sabah's deputy chief minister II, said PBS is eyeing more than 12 seats in the election, although discussions are still ongoing with other GRS component parties.
"We are still negotiating and have submitted our list of requested seats.
"In fact, PBS is seeking more than 12 seats.
"But this is not the time to focus on seat allocations.
"What matters most is that GRS wins, that's our priority," he added.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey said STAR and PBS supporters prefer that GRS contests under its own banner, and if there is cooperation with other parties, particularly Pakatan Harapan (PH), they should use the GRS logo during the election.
However, he said GRS must contest at least 55 seats to improve its chances of forming the government in the event that its partners lose.
As for STAR's allocation, the deputy chief minister I said the party is targeting 15 seats in the state election and is still discussing to avoid any overlaps with PBS or other GRS components.
He warned that seat clashes among component parties would only weaken GRS and benefit the opposition.
PBS and STAR, which signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in April last year to face PRN17 together, are two of eight GRS component parties.
Both parties currently hold seven and six state assembly seats respectively, PBS with seven and STAR with six, making them the second-largest bloc in GRS after Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat).
Today's joint convention between PBS and STAR marked their first-ever collaboration at this level, as both parties prepare for the impending election.