Desperate PCS needs to stop false political narratives – Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) is so desperate to surface above the political waters that it has to spin childish accusations about the United Sabah Alliance (Gabungan Sabah) being supposedly pro-BN, said Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the president of Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (STAR).

In a statement here in response to PCS president Datuk Wilfred Bumburing’s speech at PCS’ first annual general meeting, Jeffrey, who is also the assemblyman for Bingkor, said PCS had been using this narrative ever since it left the Gabungan, making it the supposed reason it divorced itself from the only opposition political coalition in Sabah.

“They have to make up and keep hanging on to this infantile narrative as a way to cover up the real reason it left the coalition. It was hoping to hook up with Parti Warisan Sabah,” Jeffrey said.

“But unfortunately for PCS, within a few days, announced that it will contest all seats in Sabah, meaning it had no intention of working with PCS.

“PCS now wants to give the impression that Warisan is cooperating with it, but how is that possible if Warisan is contesting all 60 seats?” he asked. “And how is PCS to realize its desire for a grand national coalition if PKR has confirmed contesting against him in Tamparuli?”

Jeffrey also expressed his puzzlement in PCS’ unending narrative that USA is a group of pro-BN political parties being used by the Barisan Nasional to split votes. He said the accusation has no merit and totally ridiculous, knowing that leaders in the USA are mature politicians and not greenhorns who just came out of the jungle to make a quick buck in politics.

“What kind of mental hypocrisy and shallowness of mind is this? It appears that PCS, devoid of real issues, and having a morbid fear of the Gabungan, has to keep harping on the false narrative,” he added.

“I have been pursuing the revival of Sabah’s rights and autonomy since the last 40 years by conferring with various state and national leaders, including meeting the prime minister and presenting views in forums organized by UMS under which happened to have been chaired by Datuk Anifah Aman! That to me is a step in the right direction, a mark of political maturity.

“A seasoned leader should be able to have counsel with all parties, even his enemies. As a wakil rakyat elected by the people he should be able to deal and engage with other leaders irrespective of what party forms the government. At the DUN we, including Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, interact and rub shoulders with the ministers to solve the problems of the rakyat. Does that make us BN agents?

“Even Jesus told His disciples, ‘Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.’ There are always some common grounds where we can agree on a common strategy, like issues of state rights and autonomy. I am doing all these for the ultimate good of the people of Sabah.”

If PCS truly wants to fight for Sabah, it should be more honest and depart from frivolous issues and false political narratives, Jeffrey concluded.