PBS, Sabah STAR expected to sign memorandum of cooperation before CNY

PBS and Sabah STAR senior leaders held the first meeting of a special committee tasked with framing the scope of cooperation between the two parties on Wednesday (Dec 13).

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah STAR will sign an agreement to seal the cooperation between the two Sabah-based parties next year.

In a joint statement, secretaries-general Datuk Edward Linggu (Sabah STAR) and Datuk Julita Majungki (PBS) said the special committee set up to frame the scope of the working relationship held its first meeting on Wednesday (Dec 13).

They said discussions centred on the formulation of details on the cooperation between the two political outfits that could contribute towards strengthening the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition ahead of the 17th Sabah election, which is due in 2025.

“The details will be in the form of a memorandum of cooperation that will be signed before the coming Chinese New Year (which is on Feb 10, 2024),” they said.

“The memorandum will be refined by the leadership of the two parties before it is signed.

“(Subsequently) Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili will sign the memorandum,” they added.

Linggu and Majungki said although the present GRS-led government’s term would only end in October 2025, the cooperation between Sabah STAR and PBS must be reinforced as there were signs the next polls could be held earlier next year.

They said even Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also GRS chairman, had hinted to the media on Nov 13 that the elections could be as early as 2024 despite his government having two more years in power.

Besides Linggu, other leaders representing Sabah STAR at the meeting on Wednesday were its Wanita chief Datuk Flovia Ng, information chief Datuk Jalumin Bagoyoh and Youth chief Kong Soon Choi, among others.

PBS was represented, besides Majungki, by its information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Youth chief Christopher Mandut, Wanita chief Datin Malianah Ugau and vice president Arthur Sen.

PBS presently holds seven state seats and one parliamentary seat; while Sabah STAR has six state seats and a parliamentary seat.

There have been talks in recent months of a merger between the two parties which mainly hold native Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus seats.

Kitingan had in July expressed hope for a merger but the recent PBS congress proposed working together instead.

PBS also announced on Tuesday (Dec 12) that it will co-host a Christmas open house with Sabah STAR this year to mark the start of the cooperation between the two parties.