KUNAK: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will ensure the Barisan Nasional wins all the State and parliamentary seats regardless of which component party the candidates come from in the coming elections.

In this respect, PBS President Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the party as well as fellow component parties must begin mobilising their election machinery.

They must be assiduous in going down to the ground and meeting with the grassroots level because the election might be called before the expiry of the present government’s term, he said.

Pairin was speaking at the PBS Kunak Annual General Meeting in Kampung Kadazan here Sunday.

He said the party was sincere in wanting to see Sabah and Malaysia progress in all aspects of development and the people living in harmony.

He said its decision to rejoin the BN was not only to create political stability but also it reflected the party’s confidence in the State and Federal governments.

Pairin said the decision was also based on the BN government’s good track record in Sabah as well as in response to the global situation at the time.

Among them was the Sept 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, which had a great impact on other countries and people in the world, including PBS leadership, he explained.

“In order to bring development and economic stability, security is the main focus of the nation’s leadership irrespective of political ideology,” he said.

He also commended the government and security forces for their efforts to cleanse Sabah of illegal immigrants through the Ops Nyah Bersepadu II.

“We believe there is a lot that can be done to protect our nation’s sovereignty and interest in the future, but simultaneously patriotism among the people must also be heightened to curb attempts by certain elements to create panic and confusion for reasons only known to them,” he said.

Pairin said a strong relationship was significant for a multi-racial party like PBS and that in this instance, members and other BN component parties should continue to enhance understanding in line with the concept of democracy practised by the country.

Also with Pairin were the party’s assemblymen Datuk Louis Rampas (Kiulu), Johnny Goh (Inanam), Karim Adam (Kundasang) and Supreme Council member Bernadette Wong.

Community Development Officer Halid Harun represented Assemblyman Jasa Raudah.