KOTA KINABALU: The push for the formation of the "Borneo Bloc" between Sabah and Sarawak has been a contentious issue between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Parti Warisan.
Which among them will be more acceptable to neighbouring Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) remained a heated debate between leaders of the two parties in campaigning for the 15th General Election (GE15).
Although GPS had not indicated which Sabah party it was keen to work with, some in GRS claimed that the state government was already in talks with its counterparts in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Warisan said it was ready to cooperate with GPS after the polls to benefit the people in both Bornean states.
GRS took out an advertisement in local newspapers on the eve of the election on Friday (Nov 18) promoting the idea that it was working closely with GPS.
The advertisement shows Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sarawak Premier Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg, with a tagline that reads "Sabah First" to match with the "Sarawak First" motto.
In Tawau, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said his party would work with Sarawak as a bloc to push for the interests of both states at Federal level.
"We will work with Sarawak as a bloc for the interests (of Sabah and Sarawak) and to protect our rights.
"However, it will not be easy for us in Sabah as the state government is represented by some parties from Malaya," he said on Thursday (Nov 17), referring to Peninsular Malaysia.
The idea of the bloc was for both states to work together in addressing various shortcomings in the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), oil royalty increases and other issues pertaining to state rights.
Earlier, it was reported that Sarawak minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the parties in Sabah’s state government must be free from peninsula-based political parties in order for the bloc to become a reality.
The reason, he added, being that policies concerning Sabah interests would have to get approval from the central leaderships of the parties, lowering the possibility of their demands being met.
"In Sabah, the parties that are in control include Umno and Bersatu – which are Malaya-based – and any policies (in the interests of Sabah) have to be referred to the big boss in Kuala Lumpur," he said.
Shafie concurred, saying that Sabahans must unite and vote for local parties as only these could bring their voices to a national level, just as Sarawak had been doing.
The former chief minister also said a collaboration between Warisan and GPS would make it possible to form the bloc although formal talks have yet to take place.
Unlike Warisan, Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan claimed that the GRS-Barisan administration had already been working with GPS as both coalitions’ directions were driven by Borneo’s own narrative.
"We have met with each other and discussed how things should move. Unlike Warisan who are just talking about Borneo Bloc as a political stunt," said Kitingan on Thursday (Nov 17), who is also Sabah STAR president.
Political pundit Dr Lee Kuok Tiung said the bloc could potentially be formed as long as GRS could secure a stable position in Sabah by getting enough parliamentary seats.
"At the end it’s all about bargaining. Surely if they (GPS and GRS) team up then they’ll have stronger bargaining power.
"The Borneo Bloc can even make the one with fewer seats from Sabah become the 'kingmaker'," he told The Star.
GRS comprises the Sabah chapter of Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah STAR, SAPP and the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).
The coalition is working closely with Sabah Barisan Nasional, led by its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, that consists of Umno, MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).
