Dr Joachim: PBS chose to stick with GRS based on data for political stability, not emotions

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 18): Parti Bersatu Sabah’s (PBS) decision to remain within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) was based on data, political stability, and the long-term interests of Sabah, said Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.

The acting president denied that the decision was made due to pressure or emotion, despite PBS facing intense internal and external pressure ahead of the 17th Sabah State Election, including calls for the party to leave GRS, contest alone, or align with other local parties.

He said the leadership chose to rely on electoral data, voting patterns, and governance outcomes instead of sentiment.

“In this turmoil, I was labelled as a traitor to PBS. Some also accused me of being a Malayan stooge.

“But we made decisions using our heads, not emotions. We looked at data, not pressure.

“What mattered was what would best serve PBS and the future of Sabah,” he said at the 40th PBS Congress in Penampang.

Joachim said the data showed that seats with Kadazan Dusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) majorities and mixed constituencies could only be won through a strong and organised coalition, adding that GRS provided the necessary machinery, stability, and reach.

He noted that Sabah’s performance under the GRS administration further supported the decision.

He said the state’s financial position had strengthened significantly, with reserves increasing from RM3.5 billion in 2020 to RM8.3 billion in 2025, while state revenue exceeded RM7 billion, the highest in Sabah’s history.

“These are not slogans. These are facts that show what political stability can deliver to the people,” he said.

The decision to remain in GRS, Joachim added, had been proven right by the election outcome, with PBS winning seven of the 15 seats it contested.

All seven elected representatives are now serving as ministers or assistant ministers in the Sabah Cabinet.

He said this ensured PBS remained relevant, influential, and effective in advancing Sabah’s interests from within the government rather than from the sidelines.

Dr Joachim also addressed criticisms that cooperation with national parties weakened Sabah’s autonomy, saying PBS believed the state’s progress and Malaysia’s stability were interconnected.

“If Sabah is stable, Malaysia is stable. We are Sabahans in Malaysia. Both are our home, and we must take care of both wisely,” he said.

He stressed that the slogan ‘Sabah for Sabahan’ should not be twisted into anti federal rhetoric, explaining that it referred to ensuring qualified Sabahans held key positions in state and federal institutions, particularly those operating in Sabah.

PBS would continue to champion Borneonisation and the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), he said, noting that 13 of the 29 MA63 claims had already been achieved through sustained engagement and negotiation.

He reaffirmed that PBS would remain in GRS based on facts, data, and Sabah’s long term interests, describing the coalition as the most suitable platform for safeguarding the state’s rights and driving its development.

“This is not about pressure or politics of the moment. This is a strategic decision rooted in responsibility to Sabah and its people,” he said.