KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has dismissed Sabah Bersatu’s fiery criticism of the state government as empty rhetoric, accusing the party of using the state as a stepping stone for Perikatan Nasional’s power ambitions in Putrajaya.
GRS information chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said remarks by Sabah Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, who claimed that the state was suffering from a “five-in-one disease”, were nothing more than political theatrics without real solutions.
“Sabah faces long-standing challenges in water, electricity and land development. But instead of political attacks, the state government under Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is implementing the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap, which focuses on infrastructure, jobs and state revenue,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 10).
Nizam described Sabah Bersatu’s talk of a “political uprising” as a dangerous form of confrontational politics that reduced Sabah to a testing ground for Perikatan’s federal ambitions.
“Ronald himself admitted at Bersatu’s assembly that winning Sabah was only the beginning of Perikatan’s path to victory in the Peninsula. This proves Sabah is not their true cause but merely a stepping stone to power,” he said.
He reminded that Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, during his tenure as prime minister, failed to address core issues in Sabah such as basic amenities, job creation and the full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Now, after losing power, Bersatu returns with rhetoric and promises that repeat the same old failures,” he added.
Nizam questioned Perikatan’s credibility, noting internal cracks exposed by open criticism from PAS leaders, with political analysts also describing the coalition as “still searching for its centre of gravity”.
He rejected claims that Sabah would only be helped if Bersatu returned to government, pointing out that the state administration has already secured federal funding for development projects, infrastructure and MA63 implementation.
“GRS rejects politics of threats and vendettas. Sabahans are mature enough to know who is genuinely working for them and who is merely eyeing Putrajaya,” he said.
Nizam also reminded Ronald of his desperation during the 15th General Election, when he defied consensus with Barisan Nasional in his bid to be fielded as a GRS candidate.
“Is it because he failed to secure a GRS candidacy that Ronald now harbours such resentment towards the local coalition leadership?” he asked.
Nizam stressed that GRS would remain focused on stability, consistency and development for the people of Sabah.
