KOTA KINABALU: Native-based party Anak Negeri will contest 55 of the 73 state seats in the Nov 29 Sabah state election and has refused to join a loose coalition dubbed Gerakan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) planned by Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Anak Negeri election director Jismit Japong said the party decided to go it alone as there was growing grassroots strength and readiness to offer Sabahans a genuine local alternative.
"This is the time for Sabahans to rally behind a homegrown party that truly fights for the state’s rights and future," he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 24).
He said the party was expected to unveil its full list of candidates soon, and these would include several prominent figures standing in key constituencies.
Anak Negeri president Datuk Henrynus Amin said the party felt it was better to go solo in the polls, which was why it turned down Kitingan’s offer to join the loose "Sabah for Sabahans" movement dubbed GBS.
"We support 'Sabah for Sabahans', but we feel that there will be difficulties in seat allocation.
"We respect Kitingan and Sabah STAR as well as the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) for their long-time commitment to each other.
"We came on the scene only recently. We are also morally obligated to fulfil the aspirations of our new and young candidates," he said, adding that he would not want to create problems inside the movement.
"I have informed Kitingan and also (SAPP president) Datuk Yong Teck Lee that, although we will contest outside GBS, we share their political vision. It would be a friendly contest for local political parties," he added.
Anak Negeri, Sabah STAR and Parti KDM are among the native-based parties contesting solo in the ethnic Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus seats.
Other native-based parties include Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) which is part of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS); Upko, a Pakatan Harapan component party; and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), which is in Barisan Nasional.
Meanwhile, Jismit said that Anak Negeri’s manifesto focuses on several bold but practical commitments, including RM1-per-litre fuel for Sabahans, a hospital in every parliamentary area, and free housing and education for the people of the state, as well as for full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
