By Dr Jikat Binol Darimbang
KOTA KINABALU: Acting President of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, officiated the Kaamatan Festival celebration at Kampung Naalap, Manggatal, on Sunday, in a lively gathering that brought together people of various ethnic backgrounds.
In his keynote address, Dr Joachim emphasised that the Kaamatan Festival is not only a cultural celebration for the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, and Rungus (KDMR) communities, but also a unifying platform for all ethnic groups in Sabah.
He underscored the importance of preserving the spirit of Kaamatan as a symbol of cultural identity and social harmony across communities.
Touching on the current political landscape, Dr Joachim asserted that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), a coalition of local parties, is the most suitable entity to govern the state compared to national parties originating from Peninsular Malaysia.
“Local parties are inherently more familiar with the aspirations and needs of the people of Sabah. Even if the candidate is a Sabahan, if they belong to a national party, their ability to act is often constrained by decisions made at the federal level,” he remarked.
He reiterated that electing local-based parties strengthens Sabah’s political autonomy and enables more responsive governance tailored to local realities.
Dr Joachim urged all component parties within GRS to work cohesively to secure victory in the upcoming state election. He highlighted that achieving a two-thirds majority in the State Legislative Assembly is essential for political stability and effective policy implementation.
“A strong mandate will empower the GRS government to fulfil its election promises and drive development that aligns with the people’s expectations,” he said.
While advocating for stronger local governance, Dr Joachim also acknowledged the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship between the Sabah State Government and the Federal Government. He noted that such cooperation is key to ensuring long-term stability and prosperity, not only for Sabah but for Malaysia as a whole.
He cited Sarawak’s current model of state-federal relations as an example worth emulating, suggesting that a locally led government with a strong majority in Sabah could similarly negotiate better outcomes under the framework of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
