KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan's offer to work only with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah STAR is aimed at creating a wedge within the eight-party Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition partners, says Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
The PBS president said that Warisan was picking and choosing with an eye to split the ruling state coalition partners.
"If they (Warisan) want to work with PBS and STAR, I think it would be better for them to work with the GRS coalition.
"They are only choosing two parties. To us, it feels like an attempt to divide GRS as we are already part of GRS," he told reporters after a Chinese New Year walkabout in Gaya Street here Sunday (Jan 12).
He said PBS, as a founding member of GRS, was committed to GRS.
"We have been with GRS from day one, and we will remain with GRS indefinitely or at least until the time comes when we need to reassess.
"But at this point in time, we are still with GRS,” he said when responding to Warisan statements stating they were ready to work with PBS and Sabah STAR but not with GRS's anchor Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Warisan has said that they were not keen on GRS's Gagasan Rakyat as its assemblymen were caught on video recordings allegedly linked to corruption issues linked to the issuance of mining prospecting licences.
When asked about Warisan’s statement that there are integrity issues within GRS, Dr Gunsalam said "It was just political talk."
"You know, in politics, we all depend on donations. Political donations are acceptable. This is the way things work, even for the whole country. We rely on donations.
"How donations are obtained may differ, but to me, you cannot claim integrity is compromised just because you accept donations from conglomerates, individuals, or companies," he said.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is continuing an investigation into claims of bribery linked to the issuance of mining prospecting licences that so far implicated eight Gagasan Rakyat assemblymen including three ministers.
A businessman, who is seeking whistleblower status, had released videos of his conversations with the assemblymen that allegedly reflect payments made for licences that either were withdrawn or did not materialise.
Earlier Sunday, Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said they were still prepared to work with any local party including Warisan for Sabah to be united like Sarawak.
He said local parties needed to work together to ensure Sabah's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 were achieved.
