KOTA KINABALU: Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has criticised calls from certain Sabah-based parties urging voters to support only local parties, highlighting that these same parties collaborate with national coalitions such as Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the state government.
Speaking at PN’s Jelajah Rakyat event in Dewan Gum Gum, Sandakan, Hamzah countered the sentiment that only local parties should contest in Sabah, arguing that it is contradictory for these parties to promote exclusivity while forming alliances with national coalitions.
"Slogans saying that only local parties can contest in Sabah, I think that is wrong," he said, questioning why parties advocating for local representation are simultaneously cooperating with national coalitions.
His remarks come as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which consists of seven local parties, is currently working with PH — a coalition made up of four national parties, namely Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO)—in the Sabah government.
This cooperation undercuts the argument that national parties should not be involved in Sabah’s political landscape, he said.
Hamzah emphasised that governance should focus on addressing issues affecting the people, rather than the geographical origin of political parties.
He stated that PN aims to offer solutions for Sabah’s development, irrespective of whether the parties involved are local or national.
"We believe that whatever we do, whatever struggle we take on, it is meant for the people. It does not matter whether they come from the peninsula or they are in Sabah—it is meant for everyone in this country," he said. Meanwhile, PN vice-president and Sabah Bersatu chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said that the focus should be on solving Sabah’s pressing issues — such as water supply disruptions, frequent power blackouts, and deteriorating road conditions — rather than debating whether a party is Sabah-based or nationally aligned.
He said despite repeated promises, these fundamental problems remain unresolved, highlighting the failure of those in power to bring meaningful change.
"That is what matters. Not whether a party is Sabah-based, but the unresolved issues — water supply, power disruptions, and road conditions — that have worsened," he said.
He also criticised Sabah parties that campaign on promises to defend the state’s rights but fail to act once they are elected.
Issues such as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the state's revenue rights, he said, are often politicised during elections but abandoned when it is time for action.
"Sabah has always been like this. There have been parties that fought for MA63 and Sabah’s rights, but after the election, they no longer bring it up," he said, adding that some even initiated legal action demanding Sabah’s rightful 40% revenue share under Article 112C of the Federal Constitution, only to withdraw their lawsuits after joining the government.
He also took aim at government leaders who have downplayed Sabah’s revenue rights by questioning its implications for other states.
"There are leaders, MPs from the government, who say, ‘If Sabah gets its 40% revenue entitlement, what about other states?’ See, look at these people. What are they selling? Are they selling content or solutions? No. This is a political narrative they created for their own survival," he said.
Kiandee stressed that governance should be about solutions, not empty slogans, and accused some parties of merely using Sabah’s rights as political tools for their own benefit.
Despite being in the opposition, he believes PN’s Jelajah Rakyat tour has gained traction among Sabahans, signalling a growing desire for change. The coalition, he said, has seen increasing attendance at its events, with more Sabahans showing interest in their platform.
"We will continue moving across different areas, and we are confident that the people will evaluate and be the best judges of what is truly affecting them," he added.
Hamzah and Kiandee reiterated that PN’s goal is to present a credible alternative to Sabahans, focusing on policies that directly address the state’s longstanding issues rather than political narratives.
