Latest news with #17thSabahElection
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
PBS, Sabah STAR working to resolve differences ahead of state polls
Acting Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam (seated right) and Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (seated second righ) said they have ironed out differences ahead of 17th Sabah Election. KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah STAR are working to resolve differences over unity and seat distribution as the 17th state election approaches. Both parties aim to address overlapping seat claims and ensure cooperation under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition. Acting PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the party is eyeing about 12 seats, while Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said his party is considering contesting fewer than 15 seats under the GRS banner. While acknowledging some overlaps remain, both leaders said these issues are being resolved internally and do not pose a major hurdle. Speaking during the joint PBS–Sabah STAR Convention, they confirmed a mutual agreement not to contest seats currently held by either party. 'We have already identified the overlapping seats, but they are not difficult to resolve. 'We want to ensure there is no clash on the ground between PBS and Sabah STAR candidates. Don't worry about it, we are all gentlemen,' said Dr Gunsalam He added that both parties will also avoid seats currently held by other GRS components to preserve unity. PBS currently holds seven seats, while Sabah STAR holds six of the 73 elected seats in the assembly. Asked whether they support a GRS-led solo run in the state election, Dr Gunsalam said it would only make sense if all component parties contest as a bloc. 'If PBS and STAR go solo, it's suicidal. But if GRS as a whole contests solo, that is acceptable. What's important is for GRS to remain dominant,' he said. Kitingan echoed the sentiment, saying he preferred GRS to contest under a single banner. 'The earlier solo announcement by GRS received good support. It removes complications,' he said, adding that seat allocations for Pakatan Harapan should be limited to '15 and below.' 'If they don't use the GRS symbol, we would be giving away losing seats,' he said. Both PBS and Sabah STAR are primarily targeting native non-Muslim majority areas, estimated at between 23 and 25 seats. Discussions are ongoing not only between the two parties but also with other GRS component parties to ensure a united front in the upcoming polls. 'Our main focus is to ensure a GRS victory. We are not being picky … the goal is to select the best candidates for the coalition as a whole,' said Dr Gunsalam.
The Star
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Mustapha to continue leading Sabah PKR
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Mustapha Sakmud will continue his role as Sabah PKR chairman, as the party gears up for the 17th Sabah Election. This was confirmed during the first meeting of the central political bureau for the 2025-2028 term, chaired by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The meeting decided that Mustapha would continue until a new state party leadership council is appointed to ensure continuity and experienced leadership as the party prepares for the upcoming state polls. In the same meeting, Datuk Peto Galim was also retained as the party's state election committee director. Part of its plans include PKR mobilising its national leadership to play key roles on the ground. "The decision reflects the party's confidence in Mustapha's leadership and strategic insight as we approach the state polls. Our preparations are well underway, with key roles and responsibilities clearly defined," PKR said in a statement on Thursday (May 29). Meanwhile, Fuziah Salleh and William Leong will continue serving as secretary-general and treasurer-general respectively until new appointments are made during the upcoming central leadership council (MPP) meeting.
Daily Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah DAP eyeing 10 seats in the 17th Sabah Election
Sabah DAP eyeing 10 seats in the 17th Sabah Election Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP is targeting more than 10 seats in the 17th Sabah Election (PRN17), says Deputy Chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin. He said the decision was made during the party's recent state retreat but remains subject to negotiation with coalition partners under the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) pact. Advertisement Chan said the party aims to defend its four state seats, namely Tanjong Papat, Kapayan, Likas and Luyang, as well as the two seats where its representatives defected to Warisan, namely Sri Tanjong and Elopura. In the previous state election, Sabah DAP contested seven seats. SPONSORED CONTENT Apart from DAP, the Pakatan coalition in Sabah includes PKR, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) and Parti Amanah Sabah. On PKR Deputy President Nurul Izzah Anwar's statement about contesting at least 13 seats in the state polls, Chan said the final allocation depends on consensus within Pakatan. Advertisement 'Once there is consensus within Pakatan on seat allocation, only then can we begin formal negotiations with other coalitions,' he said, Monday. In the 2020 state election, DAP contested under the Warisan logo, while PKR and Upko used their own party symbols, collectively winning nine seats. Advertisement Chan said the coming state polls will be more complex than the 2020 election, involving three major blocs – the Pakatan-Barisan pact, GRS and Warisan. 'For other groups, there is interest in collaboration but formalising these discussions takes time,' he said. Chan said, for now, everything remains open. 'Nothing is set in stone. Each coalition must finalise its internal consensus before moving forward,' he said. Meanwhile, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) views PKR's intention to contest at least 13 seats in the PRN17 as a direct challenge to the political autonomy of Sabah. 'The demand for 13 seats by a peninsula-based party implies a continued perception of Sabah as a political colony, rather than an equal partner in the Malaysian Federation. This undermines the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which affirms Sabah's right to determine its own political direction,' said Star Information Chief Anuar Ghani, in a statement, Monday. Star also criticized Nurul Izzah's statement regarding the deployment of campaign teams from Selangor, Johor and Penang to Sabah, calling it intrusive and disrespectful to local sentiments. 'Sabah is not a political laboratory for peninsula parties,' he said. 'Sending in outside machinery shows a lack of sensitivity and reinforces the perception that national parties continue to undermine local leadership.' Star also questioned the basis for PKR's seats claim, noting that the party previously won only two out of the 10 seats it contested in the last state election. 'To now demand 13 seats despite such a record reflects not only overreach but a lack of understanding of Sabah's evolving political landscape.'
The Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah DAP aims to contest 10 seats at state polls
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP is targeting more than 10 seats in the 17th Sabah Election (PRN17), says its deputy chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin. He said the decision was made during the party's recent state retreat but remains subject to negotiation with coalition partners under the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional pact. Chan said the party aims to defend its four state seats, namely Tanjong Papat, Kapayan, Likas and Luyang, as well as the two seats where its representatives defected to Warisan, namely Sri Tanjong and Elopura. In the previous state election, Sabah DAP contested seven seats. Apart from DAP, the Pakatan coalition in Sabah includes PKR, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) and Parti Amanah Sabah. On PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar's statement about contesting at least 13 seats in the state polls, Chan said the final allocation depends on consensus within Pakatan. "Once there is consensus within Pakatan on seat allocation, only then can we begin formal negotiations with other coalitions," he said on Monday (May 26). In the 2020 state election, DAP contested under the Warisan logo, while PKR and Upko used their own party symbols, collectively winning nine seats. Chan said the upcoming state polls will be more complex than the 2020 election, involving three major blocs – the Pakatan-Barisan pact, GRS and Warisan. "For other groups, there is interest in collaboration but formalising these discussions takes time," he said. Chan said, for now, everything remains open. "Nothing is set in stone. Each coalition must finalise its internal consensus before moving forward," he said.
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Zahid: No 'Team Bung', 'Team Rahman' in Sabah BN
KOTA KINABALU: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has given his assurances that there are no factions within the party or Barisan Nasional as they prepare to face the 17th Sabah Election. He said there was only one "faction" representing Sabah BN to carry the coalition's challenge together with Pakatan Harapan and any other party with whom they may be cooperating for the election. "There is no 'Team Bung Moktar', no 'Team Abdul Rahman', no 'Team Salleh Said' and not 'Team Yakubah Khan', we only have 'Team Sabah BN'," he said. Zahid, who is alos BN chairman, was speaking at the launch of the Sabah Umno "Gerak 17" for the Karambunai state seat in Sepanggar last night. Bung Moktar refers to Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, while Abdul Rahman refers to the former's deputy, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan. The other two named were Sabah Umno treasurer and former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak and Sepanggar Umno chief Datuk Yakub Khan. Zahid was believed to have made the statement following speculation that there were differences of opinion Sabah Umno's among its top leaders. In his speech, he also said Umno could no longer afford internal conflicts among its leaders, as such discord was one of the reasons for the party's and BN's defeats in previous general elections. "We have lost twice (in general elections) because we were too busy dealing with our differences. Each leader had their own ego, and the ones who suffered the consequences were the people. "We want to close that chapter and open a new one... we must work in such a way that it leads to victory," he said. He said conflicts among leaders would only hurt the people, who had done nothing wrong and only wanted development and solutions to problems such as water and electricity supply as well as better roads and various other issues. Meanwhile, Zahid also gave his assurances that smaller parties within BN and the coalition's partners in PH would not be sidelined in the collaboration to achieve the mission of forming a government after the state election. "We will not forget MCA, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) who will also be given places (within the state government) even if they are a minority. "Let's not also forget PKR, DAP and Amanah as they, too, want a place in Sabah. This is the consensus of the unity government and the Madani government — the best so far. "We will prove in Sabah that we can form a government through this consensus," he said. Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, said he would speak with PH chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about efforts to solve the water and energy supply issues in Sabah, as well as how to improve roads. "The people want to see what we can offer... the people's problems need to be resolved and I promise that I will advise the prime minister that these issues need to be prioritised, with the assistance of the federal government," he said. He added that efforts also needed to be taken to stop the exodus of Sabahan talent to the peninsula, in particular to Johor, the Klang Valley and Penang, due to the lack of job opportunities in the state. Zahid said these issues can be addressed by attracting more foreign direct investments (FDI) and resolving infrastructure problems such as inadequate water and electricity supply, which hinder efforts to bring in investors. "These issues will be resolved within three years if BN is given the mandate (in the state election). I also pledge to bring in investors... Sabahans must be able to work in Sabah to support their families, provided that we create jobs by bringing in foreign investors."
