BERSATU may have yet to set foot in Sabah, but local politicians are already debating which side the aisle the party will take after it has established itself in the Bornean state.

While Sabah Bersatu should still be part of the state Pakatan Harapan (PH) as it is in the peninsula, the leaders of state opposition coalition Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) say the prospective leaders of the party chapter will side with the opposition.

GBS formed last year to replace Barisan Nasional in Sabah. It currently comprises Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and several former Sabah Umno leaders.

The former Sabah Umno leaders – nine state reps and five MPs – left Umno on December 12 and applied to join Bersatu. 

They are led by the former Sabah Umno liaison chief Hajiji Mohd Noor. He had said, on various occasions, that the faction he leads will cooperate with GBS.

GBS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan said if Hajiji, who is also a GBS deputy chairman, takes lead of Sabah Bersatu, the party will surely be a GBS partner.

“They will definitely work with us should our colleagues (the former Umno leaders), who are now partyless, join Bersatu,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“They were our partners before and will continue to be partners.”

Jeffrey has criticised Bersatu chairman and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on several occasions.

Dr Mahathir was prime minister when Jeffrey was detained under the draconian Internal Security Act in 1991.

However, a recent group photo showing several Sabah opposition leaders standing with Dr Mahathir appeared to show that Jeffrey may have made peace with the 93-year-old leader.

Asked whether he could work with Bersatu, Jeffrey said: “We will see what happens in the next two months.”

Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal yesterday said he will not oppose Bersatu entering Sabah, while reiterating his party will continue to work with PH.

Bersatu’s entry into Sabah was announced last Friday by Dr Mahathir, who said the chapter will not oppose Warisan but will seek to strengthen the ruling parties in the state.

The Sabah ruling parties are Warisan, DAP, PKR and United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation.

It is understood that Dr Mahathir’s aim in setting up Sabah Bersatu was to increase the number of lawmakers in his party by recruiting Hajiji and his group. 

Bersatu has not named the leader of its Sabah chapter, but said it will be a Sabahan.

Hajiji  is performing umrah and will return on February 23. But he released a statement today hailing Shafie for no opposing Bersatu’s expansion to Sabah.

Fellow former Umno leader Masidi Manjun said the group will issue a statement only after all of them meet after Hajiji’s return.

Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) president Lajim Ukin said the Bersatu chapter will not clash with the ruling Sabah parties.

Yesterday, Lajim said he was prepared to dissolve his party and bring all 64,000 Harapan members to Bersatu.

“We will align Bersatu with Warisan. There is no question, Bersatu’s entry into Sabah was to strengthen the ruling parties, not to be the enemy and weaken Pakatan Harapan in the state,” said Lajim.

The former Sabah opposition chief said Shafie may be an experienced leader, but his cabinet is filled with untested ministers and he needs experienced hands who will be part of Bersatu. – February 19, 2019.