Don’t meddle in our affairs, PBS tells Sabah Umno

Christopher Mandut says PBS will be reaching out to youths following the decision to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth has called on Sabah Umno to stop meddling in PBS’ affairs because both parties are no longer under one camp.

In a statement here today, PBS Youth chief Christopher Mandut said he was confused by a recent statement by Kota Belud Umno chief Fadli Juanas, who said PBS should focus on recapturing all the seats it lost in the last general election.

Fadli had said this after PBS president Maximus Ongkili said the party was ready to contest the Kota Belud seat, which was lost by Umno in the last election, as well as the newly approved Pintasan state seat.

“It is puzzling to us because PBS is the only multiracial party in Sabah. I believe we are most suited to contest any seat, including those in the Muslim Bumiputera and Chinese areas,” Mandut said.

He said Fadli’s call was misplaced as PBS was no longer part of Barisan Nasional (BN) and, as such, had nothing to do with Umno.

“PBS is now on its own and other parties have no right to dictate where it should or should not contest,” he said.

Instead of meddling in PBS’ matters, he said Fadli should take his own advice.

“Umno Sabah also lost many seats in the last general election, so maybe they should focus on winning back their seats, too,” he said.

Mandut said PBS was working hard to reach out to the grassroots and also among the youths following the recent approval of the bill to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

“This will be among our focus. We will be going all over Sabah to reach out to the young voters,” he said. - FMT