KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Pakatan Harapan will work with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah until the end of the present state government's term, says Datuk Seri Christina Liew.
“So far we have been working with GRS. I’m in the GRS government... if I'm not in the same boat, what am I doing (here)?” asked the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister.
"I'm a member of the state Cabinet led by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also GRS chairman. Inanam assemblyman Datuk Peto Galim is also part of the state government as an assistant minister.
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"If I'm not working (in step) with the state government, I don't think I would be standing here," she added on Thursday (Jan 16) when asked if Sabah Pakatan and GRS were still "in the same boat" and if they would collaborate in the coming state polls.
On future collaboration, she said Sabah Pakatan needs to settle its own issues first before negotiating with GRS or other potential partners.
She urged all parties to give the state government a chance to complete its term and roll out all its planned development projects, many of which are already being implemented.
It was reported last month that Sabah DAP said it wanted to review Sabah Pakatan's cooperation with GRS following the emergence of videos alleging corruption that were linked to certain assemblymen.
However, the issue took a back seat when Upko president Ewon Benedick was elected state Pakatan chairman, replacing Liew.
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She said the people can decide what they want in the coming state election, and that would be the fairest way.
“If there are any issues to bring up, I am sure we can wait (just a few months for the state election). The people will have a chance to speak up,” she said, urging the current government to ignore all the background chatter and continue working for the people's economic development.
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As for reports of differing views within Sabah PKR and Pakatan, in terms of preferred allies, she said expressing such opinions was normal in every political party.
Asked about the state Pakatan chairmanship, which some PKR leaders have said should be the domain of the party, Liew declined to comment.
Sabah PKR leaders have also expressed differing views on which allies they are keen to work with in the coming elections, due in October.
