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KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will remain with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) amid advice for the Kadazandusun Murut and Rungus communities to choose established local native parties in the upcoming state election.
PBS acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam (pic) said the party stands firm on its decision to work within GRS, which is in an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan.
"We have consistently said that we are with GRS. In this election, we stand as GRS.
"We are also made up of local parties," he said when contacted on Monday (Nov 24).
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He was asked about a roundtable talk last week where it was suggested that voters choose from PBS, Sabah STAR, or Upko to ensure local parties win the state election.
"The Roundtable: Election Edition" was organised by NorthborneoTV and Sabah Way Forward, an informal group focused on addressing the state's challenges and on promoting its progress.
The session was moderated by The Star’s Datuk Philip Golingai, a senior news editor and columnist.
It involved prominent leaders, including Huguan Siou (paramount leader of the Kadazandusun community) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, and former chief justice of Malaysia Tun Richard Malanjum.
Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick were also part of the roundtable.
During the session, Pairin expressed his satisfaction at how the leaders present had come to a consensus on the importance of working together for Sabah's future.
"We cannot keep quarrelling among ourselves. If we cannot control the steering wheel, how can we go in the right direction?
"We should all work together, not for anything else but Sabah’s future," he said.
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A video has since been circulating showing Jeffrey urging native parties to work together in multi-cornered contests.
Jeffrey, who will be defending the Tambunan seat, called for native parties to throw their weight behind the strongest candidates.
"Candidates with a smaller chance of winning should also throw their support behind the candidates with a greater chance, and urge their supporters to do so.
"This way, our votes will not be split. If we are split, someone else will win," he said while on the campaign trail in Tambunan.
Ewon, meanwhile, did not respond when asked about the proposal.
