KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Maximus Ongkili has not committed to his party sitting out the Kimanis by-election despite being coaxed by Sabah Umno to do so.
Ongkili said PBS is still assessing the sentiments on the ground in Kimanis, adding the party does have support in the parliamentary constituency in southwest Sabah.
“Actually, we have only had informal chit chats.
“We’ll decide before nomination day whether to contest. The constituency is multiracial and a party like us will always have a place,” he told reporters at the PBS Christmas open house in Penampang near here today.
He said PBS won’t rush into a decision despite Sabah Umno’s plan to announce its candidate on Jan 1.
“Let them name theirs first. If we name ours, we will name last. There are about 6,000 to 8,000 people in Kimanis who are not committed to Umno or Warisan-Pakatan Harapan.
“That makes it interesting. It’s not a straight-forward fight,” Ongkili said.
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, who was among those who attended the Christmas do, said yesterday Umno had held unofficial meetings with PBS to seek the party’s support and to urge them to sit out this by-election.
Umno intends to take on Warisan in a straight fight.
Speaking to the media today, Bung said he had told Ongkili that it was important for the opposition bloc to work together to defeat the Warisan candidate.
“The discussions have been very positive and we will work together to make sure the Barisan Nasional candidate wins.
“We started preparations in Kimanis two months ago. I think we have an advantage over the other party. I will continue to go down to the ground to make sure our machinery is functioning at 100% capacity,” he said.
Asked if PBS will support Sabah Umno, which had campaigned for them in the Sandakan by-election last May, Ongkili said the candidate must fulfil certain criteria first.
“PBS will support a candidate or party that fights for state rights, defends the Malaysia Agreement 1963, pledges to make sure Sabah is safe from illegal immigrants and rejects the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS).
“If the Umno candidate meets these conditions, we will give our support,” he said.
The Election Commission has set Jan 4 as the nomination day while polling will be held on Jan 18.
The Kimanis seat fell vacant after the Federal Court decided to uphold the election court’s decision to declare the victory of former foreign minister Anifah Aman in the May 9 general election last year null and void.
There are 29,664 registered voters in Kimanis, 52% comprising Bumiputera Muslims, 41% non-Muslim Bumiputeras, and about 6% Chinese.
Meanwhile, Ongkili continued his tirade against the PSS.
“The PSS to us is a dangerous game. It’s just legalising what is illegal,” he said, adding even West Malaysians are required to renew their work passes annually.
The PSS, which is aimed at replacing three types of migrant documents — the IMM13 refugee cards, Kad Burung-Burung and census certificate — is renewable every three years.
The government plans to issue the PSS to these document holders starting next June.
Ongkili said there are other ways to solve this problem, adding PBS is willing to participate in giving solutions if an inter-party committee is set up in the state assembly or Dewan Rakyat to resolve the issue.
“So that’s why we reject the PSS. There’re no shortage of ideas — it’s all in the previous royal commission of inquiry into illegal immigrants in Sabah. You don’t have to create something new,” he said. - FMT
Wow, just few days ago pbs said that their initial survey found out that they can win kimanis but now?
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