Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing has openly campaigned for Pakatan Harapan’s candidate in the Merotai state constituency during the Sabah election, an action that appears to contradict a clear directive from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Public Endorsement on Social Media
In a Facebook post made last night, Tiong expressed strong support for Pakatan Harapan candidate Ruji Ubi. As the federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, he described Ruji as the right person to transform Merotai into an attractive tourism destination.
Tiong highlighted Ruji’s extensive administrative experience and deep knowledge of government procedures, saying these qualities would enable him to serve the constituency effectively.
“With a strong mandate, he can expedite documentation, resolve land issues, process applications smoothly, and bring in the resources needed for cultural and community development,” Tiong wrote. He also shared several photographs of himself campaigning on the ground in Merotai.
GPS Directive and Earlier Warnings
The move puts Tiong at odds with GPS policy on the Sabah state election. PDP deputy president Henry Harry Jinep recently reiterated that GPS, as a Sarawak-based coalition, is not involved in the Sabah polls and has instructed all its component party members to stay out of the campaign.
Henry stressed that any member found campaigning in Sabah would face disciplinary action. He was responding to an earlier incident involving a video that showed a PDP member from from Marudi allegedly assisting in Sabah. Henry clarified that the member had acted entirely on his own and that PDP has no official role in the neighbouring state.
“GPS is not part of any coalition in Sabah. We are not taking sides,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the coalition’s chairman, Abang Johari Openg, had personally spoken to Tiong King Sing about the matter involving the Marudi member.
The latest development involving the PDP president himself is likely to raise further questions within GPS about adherence to its neutral stance in the ongoing Sabah election.
