Proposed merger called off for practical reasons: PBS

PAPAR: A proposed merger of opposition political parties in Sabah has been called off for practical reasons but it does not suggest that the ruling coalition can rest on its laurels and continue mismanaging the state, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice President Datuk Johnny Mositun.

“There are merits to the proposal, but at this stage it might be premature. After all, there is still a long way to go before the next general election and the political scenario in the country and State has yet to become really clear. Anything can happen between now and then. “If we dissolve our respective parties now in haste, and the situation changes later, we would have tied ourselves in knots unnecessarily to face GE15. That is what PBS does not want happening,” he said after a meeting with Kg Kaiduan local residents here, recently.

Mositun, who is the PBS Division Head for the Limbahau Constituency, was referring to a statement by Sabah Star President Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan stating that after a weekend meeting with opposition leaders, they decided not to dissolve their respective parties to form a merged single opposition party.

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“Our President, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili has PBS’ stand clear. Dissolution of our party, which has struggled for our ideals for 35 years, is unimaginable. “Our members have stayed with us through all these years because of those ideals. We will not abandon them or our ideals in the mere hope of regaining political power,” Mositun said.

However he added PBS was ready to cooperate with all and any other opposition parties to face the next general election.

Meanwhile, Mositun viewed the State Government’s efforts to raise funds to help the People’s Republic of China in combating the Covid-19 epidemic in its Wuhan Province as noble and should be supported.

“But while helping China is commendable, the basic principle remains and that is to protect our own people first. So spend resources and medical expertise on your own people as a priority,” he stressed, in response to those who have been critical about the fund to help China.

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Mositun added that he was happy to note that the people in Kg. Kaiduan decided to pass the hat around so that they too can contribute to the Government’s Covid-19 Fund. “This is in the true spirit of Christianity and humanity,” he said.

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