BERSATU’S announcement that it will expand to Sabah ends months of speculation on whether the party is entering the state, said Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah president Lajim Ukin.

Lajim said the party’s supreme council had made the right decision to bring Bersatu to Sabah as it is a pillar of Pakatan Harapan and therefore, very much needed in the state.

“We are thankful over this decision. I believe Sabahans, especially the Bumiputera Muslims and non-Muslims will choose Bersatu as the platform of their struggles, future and stability of politics in Sabah,” he told The Malaysian Insight.  

Lajim and former Sabah Umno liaison chief Hajiji Mohd Noor are among Sabah politicians who had supported Bersatu’s expansion to Sabah.

Lajim had earlier planned to distribute around 100,000 Bersatu membership forms to Sabahans as he plans to align the state chapter to the Warisan-led government.

This is opposed to Hajiji’s plan, who wants to align the state chapter with the Sabah opposition alliance, Gabungan Bersatu Sabah, which at present comprise Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku.

Lajim said he was not sure why the Bersatu supreme council decided to enter Sabah, but said it can’t be to side with Hajiji as he wants to align Bersatu as a state opposition party.

When asked about leadership, Lajim said Bersatu should pick a capable and influential person to be the party’s Sabah chief.

Meanwhile, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Maximus Ongkili insists that local parties are far better positioned to uphold the interests of the state.

“Sabah had seen Sabah Umno rule for over 20 years where many decisions done by the party’s national leaders lack impact on Sabah, and now Bersatu.

“It is important as Sabahans must unite and fight for their rights and the impact will be better if a Sabahan takes the lead through a state party like PBS,” he said. – February 15, 2019