PCS hit by revolt over pact with Anak Negeri
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) has been hit by a revolt over the party’s deal to work with Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri.
All three PCS deputy presidents – Dr Nicholas James Guntobon, Paul Voon and Datuk Dr Richard Gunting – announced their resignations from the party, along with another five supreme council members, including its youth chief.
At a press conference yesterday, the eight said they were unhappy with the move to form a political pact with Anak Negeri as it will be a spoiler party which will split the votes.
“We need to work together with political parties that have the potential for a regime change,” said Voon.
The rebellion comes a week after PCS president Datuk Wilfred Bumburing signed a pact with Anak Negeri president Datuk Henrynus Amin to work together to contest between 22 to 25 non-Muslim bumiputra seats in the coming general election.
The pact, which forms a third opposition group in Sabah, saw PCS ending its talks with Parti Warisan Sabah.
Warisan, led by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, is also in negotiations with Sabah’s Pakatan Harapan on seat arrangement.
Voon said they were thinking of joining a mainstream Opposition party, but he declined to reveal more.
He also said that PCS ideology was for it to be a multi-racial party with a Kadazandusun-Murut-Rungus base.
“But, the pact with Anak Negeri made the party exclusive to the non-Muslim bumiputra, which did not reflect the party’s ideology.
“Its reluctance to work with other opposition parties has rendered PCS irrelevant,” he added.
On a separate matter, Gabungan Sabah announced their parliamentary constituency coordinators for all 25 parliamentary seats in the state and Labuan in preparation for the elections.
Gabungan central council secretary Edward Dagul said the coor- dinators will be engaged in meetings to launch their election machinery.
Gabungan comprises Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah STAR), Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).