Umno wants to give PAS one appointed state assemblyman post in Sabah: PN and GRS oppose

PAS was persuaded to not contest any seat in the recent Sabah state election and instead help campaign for GRS, which they did. For their contribution, Umno wants to offer PAS one appointed state assemblyman post in the Sabah State Assembly. PBS, PPBM, STAR and SAPP, however, do not agree.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

(MMO) – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today said it is not privy to any discussion on including a representative from PAS in the state government or as a nominated assemblyman in its legislature.

PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) alliance need not consider the Islamist party since it did not contest in the recently ended state election.

“In the case of PAS, the fact that they did not contest nor won any seat, it is our considered view, that any appointment under the provision for the nomination of assemblymen or any government post-appointment DOES NOT MERIT consideration by GRS for PAS,” he said in a statement. (READ MORE HERE)

The Sabah situation is actually very complicated.

The GRS state government in Sabah comprises of Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN), and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). BN is Umno, MCA, MIC and PBRS (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah). Then we have Muafakat Nasional (MN), which is Umno and PAS. PN is PAS, STAR, SAPP and Parti Pribumi Bersatu (PPBM).

PAS was persuaded to not contest any seat in the recent Sabah state election and instead help campaign for GRS, which they did. For their contribution, Umno wants to offer PAS one appointed state assemblyman post in the Sabah State Assembly. PBS, PPBM, STAR and SAPP, however, do not agree.

Many Umno leaders and members want their party’s relationship with PN and GRS to be re-evaluated. Now, with this latest development in Sabah, the PAS leaders and members may want their party also to do the same.