KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional will decide on its direction with its coalition party Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) before the elections, says its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
"This direction is to ensure that Barisan will not be cheated again," he said in his speech at the Sabah Barisan Convention at the ITCC Hall in Penampang near here on Saturday (July 2).
“We do not wish to be in the same position where Barisan 'befriends' other parties only to be treated with insincerity,” he said.
Bung Moktar also trailed his guns on GRS’ partner Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili who at the just concluded PBS congress blamed a Barisan party for giving out identification cards to foreigners when they were in power.
"PBS president, don’t try to play with fire. Be a respectful friend if you want to be friends because Umno has never betrayed its friend.
"PBS has betrayed Barisan so many times. Even with one seat in Parliament they get a full minister’s post.
"When Barisan was in power, they were with us," said Bung Mohtar in warning Ongkili that he would come out with the wrongdoings of PBS if he did not stop these accusations.
"I have not exposed the things PBS did to destroy Sabah. Wait and see when elections draw nearer.
“He has started drumming and we will beat back on his drums.
"He has picked the wrong man. He thinks he can threaten me. He better apologise," added Bung Moktar.
He also said that Barisan would come out with a fresh plan and manifesto for Sabah for the coming elections and would be proposing a new deal to replace the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Many parties have been bringing it up for years but the problem was not solved.
“Now leaders have to find a way to resolve it,” he said.
Bung Moktar added that for so long the Federal government had not approved the 40% revenue rights because if they did, they would go bankrupt.
He said the use of MA63 was for nothing else but for political mileage.
"My friends fought for MA63, even went to jail and yet we still get nothing," he said, adding that a new deal could be proposed for Sabah to meet the needs of MA63.
Bung Moktar also said Barisan must work harder to strengthen their base in respective constituencies with voters including the youth.
"Don’t worry about who will be the candidate. The candidate we leave to the president, who has the final say," he said.
