KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) still hopes to meet up with Sabah STAR and work out a solution regarding their earlier pact to work together in the coming state polls.
PBS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the memorandum of understanding signed between both parties last year was still valid even though Sabah STAR was no longer with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
ALSO READ: Bangkuai says STAR and SAPP exit does not derail GRS struggle
"It clearly states that it has to be mutually terminated, but honestly, we have not met (since) Sabah STAR left GRS," he said on Monday (Oct 13).
While he respected Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s decision to leave the coalition, he still hopes PBS and Sabah STAR can sit down for a discussion
“Of course, we are now on a different path, but we have the same objective and I hope we can find a way, in the interest of the state and the people, to at least respect what was signed," he said, reaffirming that PBS would stand firm with GRS.
"Let’s meet and deliberate on that before deciding. I cannot say much... until there is such a meeting," he said when asked for updates on the situation between PBS and Sabah STAR.
ALSO READ: GRS terminates Sabah STAR and SAPP's membership
Bangkuai said he was not in charge of organising such a meeting, but believes that efforts have been made to reach out to Sabah STAR.
The MOU between the parties states, among other things, that they would not contest against each other in any seat, and that its termination must be mutual.
"As far as I'm concerned, the MOU still stands," he said.
On Oct 2, GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah STAR and the Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) memberships in the coalition had been terminated following the two parties' decision to contest the 17th state election using their own logos.
