PETALING JAYA: Sabah Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Ronald Kiandee has told PAS leader Annuar Musa not to make hasty statements regarding the coalition’s potential cooperation with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) for the upcoming state election.
Speaking to FMT, Kiandee said Sabah’s ever-shifting political landscape made it challenging for any party, including PN, to take a firm stance on alliances.
Kiandee predicted there would be new developments related to a possible realignment involving GRS, Pakatan Harapan (PH), and Barisan Nasional (BN) following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s call yesterday for the three coalitions to cooperate, in line with the collaboration at the federal level.
He also asked if GRS component leaders would be willing to work with PH-BN as GRS chairman, Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor, had announced the possibility of the local coalition going solo in the state polls.
“Annuar should not have been so quick to comment because Sabah’s political dynamics are always evolving. His statement has been overtaken by current developments,” said Kiandee.
“As the head of PN and Bersatu in Sabah, I’ve provided a detailed briefing on the current political situation in the state.
“Annuar should have passed on his proposal to PAS representatives to be discussed by the PN Supreme Council.”
Annuar, the PAS deputy election director, said yesterday his personal view was that PN should support GRS in the upcoming Sabah polls since PH and BN had announced an electoral pact of their own.
Annuar, a former Umno secretary-general, also said he hoped that PN would study the option of contesting under the GRS banner, or even sit out the polls completely.
On Friday, GRS threatened to go solo at the state polls if PH and BN finalised an electoral pact. Hajiji contended that local Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government.
PH chairman Anwar, who was in Sabah yesterday for talks with Hajiji, expressed optimism that PH, BN, and GRS could agree on cooperating ahead of the polls.
