KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) appreciates Parti Warisan's interest to work with them in the coming elections but will remain loyal to the state government coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pic) instead invited Warisan to subscribe to the same goals of GRS in bringing development to Sabah.
"We in PBS value the political gesture of Warisan and its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to co-operate and collaborate for the upcoming general elections.
"But as a local and seasoned multiracial party, we are fully committed and totally loyal as a foundation member of GRS and its partners," said Ongkili in a statement on Tuesday (June 7).
He was responding to Shafie, who recently said that there were calls from grassroots and within the party for Warisan to work with local parties like PBS.
Shafie, however, said Warisan would focus on building and strengthening its own "home" first before further talk of any collaboration.
Ongkili, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), added that GRS' political struggle, as highlighted by its chairman and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor during its launch last month, was not only noble and timeless but also focussed on the people.
"We invite Warisan and supporters to subscribe to the same goals to truly develop Sabah and secure a prosperous and safe state, free from illegal foreigners," he added.
Ongkili said any respected local party in Sabah could subscribe to the coalition's goals and aspirations without seeking to be a member of the GRS family.
"The need for such political collaboration and partnership has never been so urgent than ever before, especially cooperation and solidarity in political unity, not only in Sabah but also with Sarawak as well.
"Let's start afresh in our search for political unison as exemplified by the founding parties that helped in the formation of the nation back in 1963.
"Let us learn from previous lessons of unity first practiced by the founding political parties of Sabah in the formation of Malaysia," he stressed.
Ongkili suggested slogans like "Sabah First", "Sayang Sabah" and "Sabah Bersatu" are the ones that should be upheld in this respect.
