BN-Pakatan pact in Sabah best formula for state polls, says PBRS.

KOTA KINABALU: A Barisan Nasional move to form electoral cooperation with Pakatan Harapan is the best formula for the national coalition to face the coming Sabah elections, says Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Datuk Arthur Kurup.

Kurup, whose PBRS is the only local party in Sabah Barisan, said that it was the right move as it would keep intact the current unity government formula at federal level.

He also said the Barisan-Pakatan collaboration would guarantee the stability and prosperity of the country now being seen under the unity government.

"The Barisan-Pakatan agreement has been translated through good relations between the leadership of the unity government led by Barisan and Pakatan at the federal level with the cooperation of other political parties as happened in the Nenggiri by-election (PRK) and the coming Mahkota by-election," he said in a statement.

Arthur said that Malaysia is enjoying positive development momentum and it is a priority to maintain the existing unity and stability through a combination of strong political cooperation which has proven to be the best for Sabah and Malaysia.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who leads the local based Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), has said that he was keen to work with Pakatan in the coming state election that is due to be called before September 2025.

The eight-party GRS has yet to disclose its official position on a pact with the national parties amid some constraints with at least three of its partners wanting to go into the election on its own.

GRS has been in a coalition with Sabah Pakatan since January 2023 after Sabah Barisan, led by Umno's Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, withdrew its support.

Some renegade Umno assemblymen remain with the GRS state government.