Kota Kinabalu: Sabah-based opposition coalition, United Sabah Alliance (USA) or Gabungan Sabah now has five component parties with it officially accepting two local-based parties, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS) into its fold. USA Chairman Datuk Mohd Noor Mansur said a decision had been made to accept the two parties during its last meeting on March 14."Now USA has Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) headed by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Datuk Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) headed by Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing, Harapan Rakyat led by Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin and PPRS headed by Datu Mohd Arshad Datu Mualap.
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"I am also announcing that PCS has no intention at all to leave USA which has been confirmed firmly by PCS Deputy President Paul Voon representing Bumburing in the meeting here," he said.Mohd Noor disclosed this to reporters after chairing a council meeting of the USA main committee at the headquarters of Harapan Rakyat here on Tuesday.
Also present were Yong, Star Deputy President Edward Linggu, PCS Deputy President Paul Voon, Lajim and Arshad as well as the main committee officials.On whether USA will make efforts to work together with Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), Mohd Noor said USA had never rejected anyone or quarters that wished to join the opposition coalition but that it has yet to make efforts to achieve such cooperation with Warisan.
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In addition, he said, Warisan has yet to approach USA although the body language has been cordial between them.On whether USA will make the first step to approach Warisan, Mohd Noor said it would depend on the situation, adding that it is taking the wait-and-see approach.
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"At the beginning, I attended all functions organised by Warisan even last year when its President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal asked me to attend a meet organised by him in Semporna that was like two days before the Hari Raya celebration."I accepted Shafie's invitation at that time because the intention was to combine all the energy of Sabah people and leaders to face the forthcoming GE14. Together with Lajim, we also attended Warisan's function in Kota Belud and Membakut and after that, no more."Actually we have always opened our door to parties that are really sincere and honest in championing the rights and needs of the people and Sabah that have been denied all this while," he said.On chances of USA and Warisan competing separately against BN in the GE14, Mohd Noor said even a little child would be able to predict the chances because it would be better for USA and Warisan to combine forces in challenging BN."It would be best for Warisan to join us (USA) because we are opening our door very wide to Warisan to come and be with us.
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But if Warisan does not wish to be in USA, then maybe there are certain terms in our manifesto which we are thinking that could be accepted by Warisan."In other words, if Warisan cannot become a member of USA, then we can always collaborate…except that it (Warisan) cannot attend the council meeting of the USA main committee," he said. - Hayati Dzulkifli
