AFTER failing to win a seat in the general election, an ally of United Sabah Alliance (GS) could only watch from on the sidelines as its partner, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Solidariti) formed a new alliance with former foes in Barisan Nasional (BN). 

There were mixed views from the leaders of Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) on the formation of Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS), the replacement for BN in Sabah. 

Solidariti, Harapan and SAPP, along with Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah had formed USA, or Gabungan Sabah, in November 2016 to take on BN in the May 9 polls. 

The polls saw opposition party Solidariti led by Dr Jeffrey Kitingan switch sides to become a partner to BN overnight. The move saw Jeffrey named as one of the deputy chief ministers in the short-lived BN administration. 

Harapan led by Lajim Ukin, formerly of PKR, recently left the alliance due to its inability to meet the requirement that only parties with elected reps are admitted as partners.

Harapan deputy president, Maijol Mahap said GBS leaders had done nothing while in power for decades. 

“There is nothing new about GBS. We know a majority of its leaders have ruled Sabah for more than two decades while in BN. 

“What can they do now that they were not able to do when they were in power?” he said.

He said GBS claimed the party struggle was centred on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and autonomy for the state but its leaders had not succeeded in achieving anything for the state whule they were in office.

“They (former BN leaders) say the Warisan state government has failed and is weak. But they have forgotten that the government has only been in power for five months, and there are many adjustment to be made,” he said. 

Maijol said Warisan, like any new company management, needed to go through the files of the  previous administration before it was able to make a “successful turnaround”.  

Maijol said the five month-old Pakatan Harapan and Warisan-led federal and state governments had already initiated a special committee on MA63, which BN had done only after 60 years in power.

Meanwhile, SAPP secretary-general Yong We Kong said the party would keep an open mind about GBS and was open to working with the new coalition.

He said USA now consisted of four local political parties – Solidariti, SAPP, Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah and newest addition, Parti Kebangsaan Sabah. – October 24, 2018.