‘Two-party system not right for Sabah’

KOTA KINABALU: A two-party system may not be right for Sabah, says Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

He said if such a system were to be established in Sabah, the special rights and privileges of Sabah “will be buried and have no chance of being restored”.

Dr Jeffrey said while there were merits to a two-party system, it was not suitable for Sabah and Sarawak.

He said if the two-party system were practised in full, representatives of Sabah in such a system would be a small minority and unable to influence any decision-making.

“So the best option is to protect and safeguard Sabah’s rights and privileges by remaining outside the two-party system but to work and cooperate to form the federal government.

“And if they do not form part of the federal government, then it should be as an autonomous state government,” he said in a statement.

Dr Jeffrey said the late Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem was right in saying he would have to remain outside of Umno to safeguard the interests of Sarawak, as he would be a “minority voice” in the party.

Dr Jeffrey also urged Sabahans to look at the bigger picture instead of focusing on the Pakatan Harapan versus Barisan Nasional narrative.

“Sabahans should be wary of the promotion of the two-party system of Pakatan versus Barisan and also Pakatan’s argument that it is the only viable option for Sabahans to change the government,” added Dr Jeffrey, who is contesting the Tambunan state seat against his brother, Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, and also the Keningau parliamentary seat.