PBS opts out of Kimanis race in order not to split votes

KIMANIS POLLS | Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has decided not to field a candidate for the forthcoming Kimanis by-election in order not to split votes.

"Otherwise, it would give an advantage to the ruling government," its president Maximus Johnity Ongkil told a press conference in Penampang today.

Previously, Sabah BN chairperson Bung Moktar Radin said PBS, a former BN ally, would allow the opposition coalition to contest the parliamentary seat.

However, Maximus did not express outright support for the BN candidate.

He stressed that the candidate must fulfil certain conditions in order to obtain PBS' support in the Jan 18 contest.

According to him, the candidate must stand firm against illegal immigrants and intruders in Sabah.

"The candidate must be a vocal fighter and defender of Sabah's rights, as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“The candidate must reject the government's proposal to implement the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS),” Maximus added.

Asked what was lacking in BN's candidate Mohamad Alamin (above), Maximus said the candidate did not press on the MA63 and illegal immigrants issues persistently, unlike PBS, which has been very vocal on these issues.

He said PBS would announce the candidate it supports after tomorrow's nomination day.

Maximus believes that PBS, which has 3,000 members in Kimanis, would be the kingmaker in the election.

Other opposition parties which have stepped aside for BN are Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

The Kimanis by-election will be held on Jan 18. Nomination day is tomorrow, Jan 4, with early voting on Jan 14.

The by-election was called after the Federal Court on Dec 2 last year upheld an Election Court ruling that nullified Anifah Aman's 2018 victory for the Kimanis parliamentary seat.

This by-election will see a fight between two ex-Bongawan state assemblypersons - BN's Mohamad, 48, and Warisan's Karim Bujang, 67 (below).

Maximus also said PBS would take an open attitude on working with Muafakat Nasional, the Umno-PAS cooperation charter.

He said this was because PBS felt that the policies formulated by BN are somehow better than the policies of Pakatan Harapan and Warisan.

It was still too early to tell, he said, and PBS would wait to see what Muafakat Nasional could offer for Sabahans.

"If Muafakat Nasional can generally meet the needs of the Sabah people, we will be opened to further discussions and interactions with them," Maximus said, and he went on to admit that PBS was a bit cautious about PAS.

"We are observing that… so long as they don't bring in the matters that Sabahans and Sarawakians are concerned about.

"PAS, I think is something to be reflected on, but it's a matter of precaution for us in PBS and being a multiracial party, we reject extremism," he said.

Maximus also pointed out that the Chinese in Peninsular Malaysia had no problem supporting PAS when the Islamic party was with Pakatan Rakyat.

Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Muafakat Nasional must adapt to the political situation in Sabah due to its different backgrounds. - Mkini