KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today denied ever seeking to establish any cooperation with Umno.

PBS vice president Datuk Arthur Sen denied Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's claim that PBS was seeking to forge ties with Umno.

Bung Moktar made the claim during the Sepanggar Umno meeting yesterday.

"Bung Moktar should not use PBS as a a topic for provocative speeches to seek attention.

"He is an old man but behaves like a child. You say you do not want to cooperate with PBS. When did PBS ever request for a cooperation with you?" Arthur said in a statement.

He said that when it comes to elctions, victory or defeat is determined by the voters, and that the people are free to choose whether Umno or PBS will form the government.

PBS, he said, had experienced the highs and lows of being in the government as well as the opposition.

"We are accustomed to this. What's important is that we have remained steadfast in our basic principles of fighting for Sabah's rights as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), for human dignity, safety, and citizenship," he said.

He also criticised Bung Moktar's 'Kinabalu Move' last year, which attempted to destabilise the state government.

Bung, who initially led Sabah Umno to form the state government with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in 2020, had in January last year tried to topple the state government led by GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Following the failed attempt, Bung was removed as state deputy chief minister and state public works minister.

He has since hinted at a possible cooperation with Parti Warisan in the upcoming state election.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/06/1067312/pbs-we-never-sought-any-cooperation-umno