Third opposition force formed in Sabah

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KOTA KINABALU: After being sidelined by Parti Warisan Sabah and Gabungan Sabah, two Sabah-based opposition parties have decided to join forces and form a third coalition to topple Barisan Nasional in the state.

Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), led by Tamparuli assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, is now formally locked in with Parti Kerja­sama Anak Negeri headed by Datuk Henrynus Amin.

The deal sets the stage for the third opposition force in Sabah that will bid for seats mainly in the non-Muslim bumiputra and rac­ially mixed seats in the general election.

But the two leaders said they were still open to negotiations with Warisan led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, whose party is still working out a deal with Sabah Pakatan Harapan.

Bumburing, who parted ways with Warisan a month ago after arguing that no party should take the lion’s share of the 60 state and 25 parliamentary seats, said his new grouping was still open to talks with Shafie and Pakatan, but only if they agreed to a fair sharing of seats.

Henrynus said the immediate goal was to form a 22-seat power block in the Sabah state assembly.

“We need to be pragmatic, reg­ardless of what people say about each other,” said Bum­buring, who was allegedly accused by Shafie of meeting the Prime Minister and not being vocal enough against Barisan.

He said he was still ready to talk to Warisan but would not go back to Gabungan Sabah, which he had left after accusing them of being Barisan-friendly.