PAPAR: PAS admits being comfortable with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government but will decide on a coalition partner for the next state election before the State Assembly is dissolved.
PAS Deputy President, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, said it is open to discuss with any party, “although it feels more comfortable with existing friends in the state government”.
He said PAS wants to ensure that the government that is formed will be strong. So if a coalition could be formed before the state assembly is dissolved would be better so that the people would know the direction of PAS.
“Usually we discuss before the dissolution because there is a coalition formed after the election like the current federal government. Similarly in the context of Sabah, when the parties cannot rule alone, they end up having to find partners in politics,” he said, after opening the Sabah PAS Assembly Meeting.
The Kubang Kerian MP said the coalition of parties in Sabah is quite dynamic.
“The beginning starts different, changing in the middle of another. So, we will examine one by one.” Tuan Ibrahim said political coalitions are very important because no single party can govern alone.
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He said PAS has yet to decide whether it would contest in the Sabah PRN because it needs to negotiate with the political consensus that will be formed.
Tuan Ibrahim also denied claims that the PAS machinery did not help Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidates in the Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) by-election.
“We did a good job because the parliamentary seat there belongs to PAS.
“If PAS does not campaign in KKB, it will affect our MPs. We went all out in Kuala Kubu Bharu.”
Meanwhile, Sabah PAS Commissioner, Dr Aliakbar Gulasan said the prejudicial attitude towards PAS as a Malayan party and unsuitable in Sabah should be scrapped.
He said that even though PAS was from Malaya, the parties working in the field are leaders from Sabah who understand Sabahan culture.
“Like the Sabahan saying goes, our placentas (tembuni) is planted in Sabah. Mine was planted in Kota Ayangan, Keningau. We are from Sabah.
“We know the culture of the Dusun people, we know the culture of the Murut people... they are our brothers.
“We are among them even though the basis may be that the party (PAS) is from Malaya but the ones who run, plant and work in the field are us and we are Sabahans.
“We understand the culture of Sabah and can speak Sabahan,” he said.
The appointed Assemblyman said PAS needs to publicise the party so that it is better known among the people of Sabah.
“As PAS members, we are among good people, we don’t dare to cheat because we were founded with the leadership of scholars.
“Misuse of power is far from PAS. Some people say PAS is a holy party, we accept that because we are afraid of committing sin.
“That is an advantage that PAS has,” he said.
He said, PAS does not only appear when the election is approaching, PAS is with the community at all times carrying out welfare work to help the community.
