KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) insists that the statement made by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee that only Sabah parties should contest in the next state election was made in SAPP’s capacity as a member of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, regardless of their position at the national level.
Sabah PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said Sabah PN’s position is that Yong, as SAPP President, has the responsibility to explain his position to PN regarding the statement.
“PN Sabah also asserts that no party can prevent other political parties, including PN, from participating in the democratic process in Sabah,” he said in a statement today.
Yong, in his recent statement, suggested that GRS put candidates in all 73 State Assembly (DUN) seats in the upcoming state elections.
The SAPP president also stressed that there is no longer any need to hold discussions or negotiations with non-local parties to become partners in the election.
Ronald, who is Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) chief, said that as the coalition party that had the highest support in the state elections last August 12, it was the PN’s desire to strengthen its position in other states, including in Sabah.
