Parties should contest under GRS logo – Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU (Aug 29): Parties in cooperation with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) should contest under the coalition logo in the coming state election, said Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Sabah president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Jeffrey was asked to comment whether he shares the same sentiment as Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Aman Mulia, who recently reiterated that GRS should contest all 73 state seats in the imminent election.

“I think what he (Pandikar) means is that everybody should contest under GRS. PH, whatever, we use only one logo. It’s better, isn’t it? That is my opinion,” he told reporters after the Perdana Lecture programme at Menara Kinabalu here today.

When asked if this would affect things since the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is seen to would most likely follow their West Malaysia counterpart in the matter, Jeffrey gave an example that a PH component, Democratic Action Party (DAP), had contested under Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) before, also citing Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s former party, as another example.

“And there’s nothing wrong with that. That only shows how united we are. And I think that will be more important, so that we are seen as one bloc,” he added.

Recently, Pandikar reiterated that GRS should contest all the 73 seats in the coming state election.

He had said that the opinion is shared by two fellow components of GRS, namely Sabah Progressive Action Party (SAPP) and Star Sabah.

Speaking during the Perdana Lecture earlier, Jeffrey hopes that Sabahans can understand deeper the meaning and significance of Sabah Day.

He said the programme, which was held in conjunction with the coming celebration, can increase the knowledge of participants regarding Sabah Day.

Jeffrey said with this new knowledge, they will then be able to be more spirited, confident and lively in celebrating the historic occasion, as well as in fighting for the rights of the state of Sabah and its independence.

“So let us celebrate Hari Sabah and commemorate this historic day which has been neglected and at times, put to the side, so that we can prevent a repeat of such occurences in the future.

“We need to correct, complete and ensure that this history is included in our learnings, so that we can know better about our state and its history as well as better manage our future,” he said.

Jeffrey said he hopes Sabahans can know more about the history of Sabah’s independence and go home being more confident in the state and nation’s future.

“Because we as a country, as the rakyat, actually have all the things we need. We have political power and economic potential in Sabah that we can develop, and we have the history to go with it.

“We need not worry what happened in the past, but rather use them to bring forward where we want to go. So I hope the knowledge they gained can be brought forward to the next Sabah Day,” he said.

He added that the Sabah Day celebrations will be rotated in all of the state’s districts, and he clarified that it is a public holiday that is separate from Independence Day despite being held on the same date.

“Sabah Day is a public holiday, we want to make it a public holiday. It was like that when it was first announced and continues to be. It will be a public holiday, just like Sarawak Day.

“Without following the Independence Day public holiday, we will have our own public holiday. It might not apply to the Peninsular, but applies to us,” he said.

Also present were Assistant Ministers to the Chief Minister, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan and Datuk Seri Abidin Madingkir.