Parti Bersatu Sabah acting president Joachim Gunsalam says the party’s cooperation with national parties is consistent with current political realities and Sabahan interests, and does not run counter to its founding principles.
The Sabah deputy chief minister said cooperation between the state government, of which PBS is a component, and Putrajaya aligns with the constitutional relationship between Sabah and the federation.
Cooperation within constitutional framework
He said PBS remains guided by both the Sabah constitution and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, and therefore its collaboration with federal partners cannot be seen as contradicting the party’s principles.
Joachim, who is also the state works and utilities minister, rejected claims that the “Sabah for Sabahans” slogan is anti-Malayan or intended to detach Sabah from Malaysia.
Meaning of ‘Sabah for Sabahans’
He said the real spirit of the slogan is to ensure that Sabahans occupy key positions in both the state and federal governments, particularly in posts that operate in Sabah.
Separately, Joachim said he shared the view of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Hajiji Noor that the coalition would consider giving way and not contesting the Kinabatangan and Lamag parliamentary and state by-elections in January.
Polling for both seats has been set for Jan 24, with nomination day on Jan 10 and early voting on Jan 20.
The by-elections were triggered by the death of Bung Moktar Radin on Dec 5.
