KOTA KINABALU: Umno does not dictate who Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) should partner in the upcoming state elections, says Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

"It is the wish of the Sabah people that counts," the PBS information chief said, adding that the party should not enter any form of cooperation with Umno.

"No need to say they won't cooperate with PBS. We will not be guided by Umno," he said at the launch of the Pekan Kiulu Kaamatan Festival on Tuesday (June 25).

Bangkuai was responding to Sabah Umno chief Datuk Bung Moktar Radin's statement that they would not cooperate with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the upcoming state elections, singling out PBS and Sabah STAR specifically.

The Kiulu assemblyman said such infighting should end as it would only cause disunity.

Bangkuai said as a fellow Sabahan and one of Sabah's leaders, Bung Moktar should instead divert his attention to fighting for the rights of the state and its people as stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement 1964 (MA63), which is also one of PBS' core struggles.

When asked whether PBS shares Sabah STAR and Parti Cinta Sabah's sentiments to support local parties for state governance, just like neighbouring Sarawak, Bangkuai said that Sabahans envision the same idea.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/25/umno-does-not-dictate-who-pbs-works-with-says-bangkuai