GE15: Sabah leaders keen to unite its MPs for stronger bargain

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders on both sides of the political divide are looking at strengthening their numbers as the national parties try to forge coalitions to form the Federal Government.

It was learned that the leaders were making calls and having discussions to create a strong Sabah bloc irrespective of their political affiliations.

They hoped to create a larger Sabah grouping to join in with Sarawak as part of the Borneo bloc to try forge alliances to be part of the next Federal Government.

Sabah had 25 MPs spread between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and its partner Barisan Nasional as well opposition Parti Warisan, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) and independents.

Political sources said that it would be better for Sabah MPs to work together as a bloc to benefit the state.

GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said they would work with Sarawak's Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to work with any coalition that formed the government at the national level.

Political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang said that Sabah is looking at GPS as the next move.

"I believe GPS and GRS both are going to bargain with Perikatan or Pakatan on what their best offers are.

"Something good must be fulfilled and to prove how this so-called Borneo bloc significantly became the kingmaker," he said.

Three component parties in GRS were also members of Perikatan at the national level.

Paridi said that Sabah Bersatu led by Hajiji was likely to take a more "autonomous" stand for negotiating for the state benefits in forging the national coalition.

"This time if the Borneo bloc is established, its bargaining power would be stronger," he added.

GRS won a total of six seats through the Bersatu Sabah, chapter taking four seats, Sabah STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) picking up one seat each in the just concluded election.

Barisan won seven seats through Umno that won six seats and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) winning one seat.

Pakatan Harapan parties won a total of five seats (Upko 2, DAP 2 and PKR 1) while Warisan won three seats.

KDM, who is friendly to GRS, won one seat with two independents.

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said he had been receiving calls and was open to discussions to further Sabah interest.

KDM president Datuk Peter Anthony, who had yet to make any statement following the election, had maintained his party would work with the government of the day.