KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's three key leaders have been urged to put aside their personal political interests and egos to work together to push the state agenda as a single force.
State Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia information chief Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan said it was important for the three leaders - Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal - to sit together for Sabah's sake.
"This is my personal view. All three of them come from the same party (previously Umno) and they know each other.
“In fact, they know what is best for Sabah, so if the three of them cannot sit together, it is a selfish act.
“The three of them have to sit and talk together for the interests of Sabah, which has been lagging behind the rest of the country," Firdaus told reporters in Sembulan here.
Firdaus said the three leaders were seasoned politicians with Hajiji an incumbent Chief Minister and his predecessor Shafie, who know exactly what is needed by Sabah and Sabahans.
“Shafie is a person with extensive knowledge of federal politics and maybe he can be Borneo's future deputy prime minister or even prime minister in the future while Bung is a good leader and understands grassroots issues.
“Bung can help the state of Sabah by speaking in Parliament," he added.
"Why don't we sit together. The Kadazandun-Murut based parties have found unity under one umbrella.
“It is time for the Muslim bumiputra leaders to work together for Sabah instead of arguing with each other," he said referring to non-Muslim bumiputra based parties Sabah STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Firdaus said Sabah politics needed reform by creating its own bloc and working with Sarawak to allow focus on federal budgeting and other state rights.
