KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR and Sabah Progressive Party leaving Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) should not derail the coalition’s ongoing struggle to reclaim Sabah’s rights, says Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (pic).
Bangkuai, who is the GRS and Parti Bersatu Sabah information chief, said both parties still share the ideals and struggles that formed the coalition.
“After all, both STAR and SAPP were instrumental in GRS’ formation, and I believe they still carry the GRS DNA,” he said.
He spoke at a meet‑the‑people session in Kampung Tomis Jaya in Kiulu on Saturday (Oct 4).
He expressed hope that both parties would continue to support efforts to defend Sabah’s rights and interests beyond the coalition framework.
Bangkuai added that political alignments may change, but the shared goal of safeguarding Sabah’s autonomy and development should continue to unite local parties.
He said PBS, having governed the state from 1985 to 1994, has learned the importance of cooperation in defending Sabah’s rights.
“Those years taught us that protecting Sabah’s rights is not easy. We must learn from that experience as we face today’s political situation,” he added.
Bangkuai then said that it became clear that confrontation alone would not solve problems, while consultation and mutual understanding often open more doors for progress.
He said cooperation with the Federal Government should be viewed as a strategic partnership to pursue Sabah’s rights through dialogue and constructive engagement.
“What we need is the right approach, whether through consultation or negotiation, as long as it delivers meaningful results for Sabah,” he said.
“Working closely with the central government must not be seen as bowing to Putrajaya but as a strategic effort to reclaim our rights,” added Bangkuai.
