KOTA KINABALU: The eight-party Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) must go into the coming state election on its own to align with the aspirations of Sabahans, says Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
He said it was important for GRS to be in step with the thinking of Sabahans who want to be represented by local-based parties, similar to neighbouring Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
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He said the people were aware of their rights and expected Sabah leaders to represent and work for them.
"People don't want to be subjected to the pressures and influences of outside political forces as we have already been through it under three decades of Barisan Nasional," he said during a party political tour of east coast Kunak district on Sunday (Feb 9).
As such, he said, all GRS parties and its leaders must cooperate fully and make a clear stand, admitting any shortcomings to the people and focusing on winning the state polls as a local-based coalition.
"The people are analysing our actions. They are watching. What exactly are these leaders doing?" Pandikar said.
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) president and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has been pushing for GRS to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan.
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Hajiji, who is GRS chairman, has stated that Sabah is not yet in a position to follow Sarawak's style of local party political control.
Pandikar, a veteran Sabah politician and former Parliament speaker, reiterated that there was no need for GRS to have an electoral pact with Pakatan and Barisan in the coming state election, due by September.
Pandikar and fellow GRS component leaders Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee strongly advocate for GRS to go it alone.
He said it was time for Sabah to get back to the old political structure of local parties without having to be subjected to the influence and pressures of national parties.
He said Sabah had been through 30 years of Umno rule and influence in the state and it was time local parties cooperate and work towards securing the state government without pacts with national parties.
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"We have been there and we have seen it, it's time for us to bring back our dignity," he added.
He said Pakatan and Barisan were just looking at a way to strengthen their base in Sabah to get into the state government, if not take over the Chief Minister's position.
Pandikar said he was open to any action for his firm stand on the matter.
"I will not be forced to submit to leaders from outside the state.
"If you want to fire me, fire me. You cannot order me to submit to (a) leader on the other side because I have to defend our dignity," Pandikar told the audience in Kunak.
