KOTA KINABALU: It is time for political parties in Sabah to unite under one local platform, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic).
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman said the suggestion from Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick for all race-based parties in the state to unite as one was a good proposal.
"This is a good suggestion. It is time for Sabahans to unite under one local platform that also cares for the national agenda," he told reporters after a Christmas function in Penampang near here on Friday (Dec 29).
Hajiji, who is Sabah Chief Minister, said Sabahans must be united and that politicians must focus on development in the state.
He said it was not right to keep politicking until they forgot the basic needs of the people.
On Tuesday (Dec 26), Benedick expressed hope for Upko to be a part of a significant unification of parties in Sabah with a particular emphasis on the collaboration of native-based parties at both national and state levels.
This came amid the ongoing efforts by two native-based parties - Sabah STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) - to make a fresh political attempt to unify the ethnic Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus communities by working together politically.
Since November, Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and PBS, led by Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, had initiated "party-to-party" talks to work together in the next state election with the key target to work closely on native seats.
Both PBS and Sabah STAR were part of the ruling GRS coalition and were warming up their strained relations by jointly hosting a Christmas open house in Penampang on Monday (Dec 25).
Since the fall of the PBS state government, led by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan in 1994, splinter native-based parties were formed and these included Upko and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.
Jeffrey, who joined or led various parties after leaving his brother's PBS in 1994, eventually formed Sabah STAR.
