KOTA KINABALU: Four major local parties – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), UMNO Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR Sabah) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) – joined forces today to form an alliance for the good of Sabah and Sabahans.
This partnership of Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS), will replace the old political regime and promote self-reliance. It aims to fight for Sabah’s full autonomy and protect its rights in Malaysia as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
A press statement released by the party stated that the formation of GBS is crucial as an umbrella for assemblymen of political parties who were part of the legitimate State government led by Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman and most importantly remain united in the pursuit to fight for justice albeit the rightful Chief Minister.
Ready to takeover from the existing illegitimate government, GBS also wants to ensure that Malaysia and Sabah remain harmonious and united; improve the state’s socio-economic development; uphold and practice the national principles.
“GBS will be finalising its formal constitution and mode of conduct soon, but leaders from the four parties have agreed to appoint PBS President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan as the Interim Chairman, while all heads of the component parties will be Deputy Chairmen namely YB Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili (Deputy President tasked to carry out the duties of PBS President), YB Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Mohd Noor (UMNO Sabah Chairman), Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR Sabah President) and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (PBRS President)”.
Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun has been appointed as the Secretary General, Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Said Keruak (Treasurer) and Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (Information Chief). The remaining Member of Parliament and Assemblymen / Assemblywomen will later be appointed as Committee Members.
The GBS Government will fully cooperate with the Pakatan Harapan Federal government and will work closely together in the best interests of MALAYSIA BAHARU and SABAH, and will be addressing the fears and concerns of Sabahans from the mess created by the illegitimate government and resolve the mess
Five months into power, the Parti Warisan State Government has created nothing but mess in Sabah, thus showing that it is incapable of running the Sabah Government, including with its many U-turns and flip-flop policies and have created a big chaos.
Its flip-flop policies include the Tanjung Aru Eco-Development (TAED), Kaiduan Dam, uplifting pump-boats ban and revisiting the proposal to mine coal in the pristine world heritage site of Maliau Basin and to use coal as source of energy.
The Warisan Government had also misplaced its priorities on illegal immigrants instead of prioritising Sabahans, as can be seen from actions from fires of squatters, documentation, pump-boats, issuance of IMM13, and paralysis of government with sackings of village heads, Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) chiefs, and Councillors, among some.
Participating party members believe that GBS will not only strengthen and empower PBS, UMNO Sabah, STAR and PBRS, but also create an alternative alliance to form the government and govern the state well, fairly and equitably.
GBS is all set to work hard together to face and win the next general election, when it happens.
The alliance will prioritise on the development and progress of Sabah and the best interests of Sabahans, besides creating specific policies to build upon the performance and progress built by the previous government involving socio-economic development, infrastructure development, tourism, youths, agriculture and environmental conservation.
GBS also hopes to establish a bi-partisan DUN (State Legislative Assembly) Select Committee to deal with MA63, oil and gas, homeland security, undertake a census of foreign and transient population in Sabah, devise a scheme to assist PTPTN students including a scheme for PTPTN students who have repaid partially or fully their PTPTN loans’ and establish a Council of Eminent Persons (Sabah) to review mega projects including TAED and Kaiduan Dam.
The alliance is also pleased to welcome back colleagues to form the GBS government and others in a unity government with the common objective of developing and progressing Sabah prioritizing Sabahans first and not be overtaken by foreigners.-pr/BNN
