BN and STAR elected reps may join PBS
KOTA KINABALU: There is the possibility that the 31 elected Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Solidarity Tanah Airku (STAR) assemblymen may come together under an umbrella party in the State like Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
Upko's Kadamaian assemblyman, Ewon Benedick, said Sabah BN chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman has also given the nod for a meeting with all Umno elected representatives to discuss the idea of them leaving the party and joining a BN component party in Sabah.
Ewon said that doing so would dispell the anti-Umno sentiment among the younger generation and create a state government run by local parties like in Sarawak.
He said there were two options, which is to form a new party or to join PBS.
“However, forming a new party will take time, so why not we use PBS?” he said.
Ewon disclosed this to the media after Sabah BN chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman's press conference at Sri Gaya here yesterday.
The two elected STAR assemblymen, namely, its president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Tambunan) and Robert Tawik @ Nordin (Bingkor) were said to have agreed to form a coalition state government with the 29 elected Sabah BN assemblymen for a simple majority of 31 seats.
Earlier, Upko acting president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau had announced of Upko leaving the BN to form a coalition government with Parti Warisan Sabah. However, the five elected Upko assemblymen, namely, Ewon, Datuk Limus Jury (Kuala Penyu), Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan), Datuk Bobbey Suan (Nabawan) and Datuk Masiung Banah (Kuamut) were reported as preferring to stay with the BN.
Ewon said the suggestion for 31 BN and STAR assemblymen to come under an umbrella party in Sabah was an interesting proposition.
“If compared to working with Warisan, I would choose to stay with the 31 assemblymen in a single party. Tan Sri Musa has given the nod to have meeting with all Umno elected representatives to discuss about them leaving Umno and joining a BN component party from Sabah.
“This is interesting and makes me more attracted to this cooperation rather than working with Warisan.”
He said there were discussions about forming a new party for the purpose, but there was already an existing vehicle in the State.
Ewon said PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is prepared to offer his party to be used as a vehicle for the 31 assemblymen to come together under a single party, given that the party has its history of governance and embraced all races in Sabah.
“If this materializes, we will be able to dispel the anti-Umno sentiment among the younger generation and build a state government run by component parties like in Sarawak without those from West Malaysia.”
Of the 60 state seats in Sabah, BN has won 29 seats, followed by Warisan (21), DAP (six), PKR (two) and STAR (two).