Musa Aman likely to join PBS after party leaves BN

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today announced that it was withdrawing from BN.

“Based on the election results both at the state and federal level, it is clear that the BN platform is no longer a viable political coalition,” said PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan in a press conference in Penampang today.

With the announcement today, this makes PBS the fourth party after United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) to have left BN.

Pairin, however, said that the party was offering to spearhead a new platform for political engagement among “likeminded parties” in Sabah.

“PBS is offering the party as a single platform upon which all elected representatives of the state government can become members of PBS to pursue their political struggle and serve the people of Sabah.

All Umno, Upko and PBRS members are invited to join PBS while Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) is to remain within its own party, he said.

“An agreement of political partnership and cooperation will be signed. The new platform will be called Gabungan Bersatu.”

PBS will also continue to support the leadership of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, said Pairin.

He also confirmed that the form to join PBS has been sent to Musa, and that the latter will like become a member.

On Wednesday, Warisan and its allies won 29 of the 60 seats in the Sabah legislative assembly - two short of a simple majority.

However, Musa claimed that he had the numbers after recruiting two Star lawmakers.

Musa was thereafter sworn in as the Sabah chief minister.

Warisan, however, yesterday claimed to have 35 lawmakers after six BN representatives defected.

Commenting on this, Pairin denounced the attempts to dethrone the state government which he said was elected constitutionally.

“The process of democracy must be respected. The sickening act of ‘YB trading’ or political leapfrogging must stop at once.

“What’s happening today is the repeat of the PBS fiasco in 1994. When are Sabahan leaders going to grow up and mature in their political engagement?” he queried -Mkini