PBS eyeing at least 17 State seats
Wednesday, 10 September 2003 (Source: Daily Express)

Penampang: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is eyeing all the 17 seats it won in the last State election and, possibly, also get to contest more seats now that additional areas are available. A request to this effect will be submitted to the Barisan Nasional, said PBS President Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

He said the party’s request for additional seats would be consistent with those of other component parties, following the increase in the number of State seats to 60 from 48.

“Of course, this needs to be discussed further among the BN partners,” he said on the second day of the 18th PBS Annual Delegates Conference in Hongkod Koisaan, KDCA, here Tuesday. Asked to elaborate on the areas PBS is eyeing, he said apart from the areas that the party had won in 1999, it would probably make representation to contest in new constituencies in which PBS has a strong chance of winning.

As for the candidates, he said various criteria would be considered, with the main one being a candidate’s ability to woo voters.

PBS is now left with 13 seats following the departures of Malek Chua (Kuamut), Ulin Pamiang (Pensiangan), Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Bingkor) and Datuk Clarence Bongkos Malakun (Moyog) from the party.

Five other assemblymen who followed Dr Jeffrey to join Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) have since rejoined PBS.

On the performance of PBS assemblymen, Pairin said he was satisfied but hastened to add that there was room for improvement.

“So far, we see they are working hard, especially now that the election is very near their efforts have increased,” he said.

In another development, Pairin said PBS had never budged from its stance on the Chief Minister rotation system, which is to have it done away with because it affected so many things that are inter-related, including the constitution.

“We will give our opinion when there is opportunity,” he said when asked to comment on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement on Monday that the fate of the rotation system is left to the people of Sabah.

However, Pairin said PBS could not provide an alternative mechanism to replace the present one as it would need feedback and opinion from everyone in the BN.

“After getting all these, then we can fine-tune and discuss the best direction that we are going to go for Sabah,” he said.

In his policy speech earlier, Pairin said the party’s leadership would be forwarding its members’ and supporters’ request so that PBS’ staunch support for the BN could be translated into votes in the coming election.

“I am aware that the members and supporters of PBS do not want our struggle to diminish into the history books just like that. They are hoping that PBS will be given the opportunity to contest in as many State and Parliamentary seats as possible in the coming general election,” he said.

Nonetheless, Pairin said the main task ahead for the party was ensuring the election machinery at all levels was ready.

Pairin also reminded party members that despite PBS being in the BN, it would not by any measure guarantee a win for its candidates as well as those from other component parties.

“Therefore, we must not be complacent about the absence of a strong opposition in Sabah,” he said, adding, “on the contrary, we must look back on history, especially those surprising election results.”

In this respect, members and supporters of PBS must work hard and remain committed to ensure all BN candidates win with the biggest majority, he said.