JUST as the 14th general election dust is about to settle, a major tiff has broken out between Sabah’s two dominant parties – United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

It is apparent that PBS leaders are dissatisfied with Upko, accusing its leader, Wilfred Madius Tangau, of being a political frog for crossing over and supporting Parti Warisan Sabah and Pakatan Harapan after the May 9 polls.

PBS’ source of anger can be traced back to when Sabah was stuck with a hung assembly, with Barisan Nasional and Warisan-PH having 29 state seats each after GE14, with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Solidariti) being the kingmaker.

There are 60 state seats in the Sabah assembly.

Although opposition Solidariti, led by Jeffrey Kitingan, swung his support to BN, giving the coalition a slim 31-seat majority, Upko then decided to cross over, taking its four seats to Warisan-PH, giving it a 33-seat majority and reducing BN’s number down to 27.

The first salvo was launched by PBS’ acting deputy president Maximus Ongkili yesterday, who said that BN lost in Sabah because of “political frogs”and not due to lack of support on the ground.

“The culture of jumping ship has been long practised by Upko, and it made BN and PBS supporters the opposition.

“And now, they face discrimination and injustices by the Warisan-led state government,” said the Kota Marudu MP, who described the cross over as an “unprincipled act”.

In 1967, Upko left Sabah Alliance, with then assemblyman Payar Juman crossing over to Usno, thus enabling Usno to form the government.

In 1994, former Upko president Bernard Dompok, who was a PBS opposition member, crossed over and joined the BN alliance through Parti Demokratik Sabah and subsequently, Upko.

Describing it as a second betrayal, Maximus said Upko leaders continued to do the same after GE14.

Upko did not take Maximus’ words sitting down, and earlier today, three of its leaders launched their counter-attack.

The first was from Upko secretary-general Donald Mojuntin, who said Upko’s decision to abandon BN was to fulfil the aspirations of Sabahans and that the decision to cross over was a collective call made by the party’s supreme council on the morning of May 10.

The same evening, Sabah BN chairman Musa Aman had sworn himself in as chief minister and his cabinet after securing the two additional seats from Solidariti.

“Remember this, PBS also left BN. So, Maximus’ outburst is perplexing, to say the least,” Mojuntin said.

For Upko, the decision was not made lightly but in the end, it was made in consideration of the practical continuation of the party’s struggle and its direction and members, he said. 

“Equally important, that decision was also in line with the wishes and aspirations of the majority of the people in Sabah, as per the 60% popular votes against BN in GE14,” he said.

Mojuntin’s statement was followed by party legal chief Nelson Anggang, who attacked PBS for colluding with Solidariti, a party it once rejected, and Upko Youth organising commitee Felix Joseph Saang. – August 5, 2018.