THE mushrooming of local parties to fight for Sabah rights will be a thing of the past with Bersatu’s entry into the state, said Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) president Lajim Ukin.

He said given how fluid the state’s politics is, the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment can change overnight.

He said state-based parties have been unsuccessful in getting Putrajaya to fulfil the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Remember, in politics, things can change within 24 hours. Tell me, which local party has succeeded in efforts to reinstate Sabah rights, as per MA63?

“In the 1990s, Parti Bersatu Sabah tried to do it, but look at where they are now. Have they been successful after going against the federal government then?” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu after announcing plans to dissolve Harapan once Bersatu sets foot in Sabah.

“Rest assured that in Bersatu, we will continue to be vocal about state rights.”

Lajim said the Pakatan Harapan party’s Sabah chapter will not be like the state Umno, whose decisions must get approval from the central leadership in the peninsula.

He said the state Bersatu will be akin to Sabah PKR and DAP, which were granted autonomy before the 14th general election.

Asked whether Prime Minister and Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad will allow such autonomy, Lajim said he believes so.

He said there is no need for Dr Mahathir to keep Bersatu’s word to Warisan on not entering Sabah as the promise was made by the “original Bersatu”, which was “dissolved” before GE14.

“Remember, in GE14, all Bersatu candidates, including Dr Mahathir himself, contested on a PKR ticket.

“Only after the polls did the Registrar of Societies approve the ‘new’ Bersatu. Therefore, the old agreement should, by right, cease to exist.”

He added that Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal should not be upset with Bersatu, as he once called the PH component a “brother” to his party.

Lajim said Bersatu will neither oppose Warisan nor court its leaders.

“We will not go against Warisan in all the 21 seats they won in GE14.

“Instead, we will discuss with the other PH components on the remaining 39 seats, as well as some of the 13 new seats approved by the Election Commission several years ago.”

On the dissolution of Harapan divisions, Lajim said they will be absorbed into Bersatu. – February 17, 2019.