Bersatu dismisses claims it is riding on GRS’ coattails

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah chapter of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has hit out at detractors for calling it weak and riding on the back of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

Its information chief Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said it was not right to describe the party as hiding behind GRS’ back because Bersatu was moving in line with the coalition.

“It makes us quite disappointed and sad to be called weak.

“Bersatu is part of GRS in Sabah and we are working as a team,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Noting that GRS was a brainchild of its component parties, he called on those who were unclear about how the coalition worked not to simply make any remarks.

“Anyone outside Sabah, especially those who do not understand how politics here works, should refrain from belittling us,” he added.

Led by Sabah Bersatu, GRS also comprises Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah STAR and Sabah Progressive Party.

Khairul Firdaus said he hoped there would not be any parties or individuals trying to pour fuel on the fire to cause disunity and fights among the component parties in GRS.

Khairul Firdaus added that Sabah Bersatu never considered itself weak and a failing party as claimed by some.

“Bersatu and GRS are strong and our ties with Barisan Nasional are also stable,” he said.

He reminded the public that GRS was planned prior to the 2020 Sabah state election, and the coalition was officially formed after that with the new state government.

Earlier, Umno leaders from the peninsula including Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan had said Bersatu in Sabah was getting weaker and only riding on GRS’ name to survive.