KOTA KINABALU, Nov 16 — Three local opposition parties in Sabah have formed an official alliance called United Sabah Alliance or Gabungan Sabah for the 14th general election.
Representatives from the three parties — Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing, Sabah Reform Party (Star) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee — signed an official declaration yesterday.
Gabungan Sabah chairman Datuk Mohd Noor Mansoor, who witnessed the ceremony said the three parties in the declaration agree to work together to identify state and parliamentary seats that they will contest.
“We will also cooperate with each other on the said seats distribution within Gabungan Sabah for the forthcoming General Election.
“More importantly, in adopting a common election manifesto, we agree to not contest against each other at either state or parliamentary seats,” he said in a statement here.
The declaration among others stated on the adoption of a common election manifesto and to liaise and cooperate with any other local opposition parties or organisations in the next elections for regime change in Malaysia towards a new order in Sabah.
“The declaration was made to meet the people’s aspirations to see a one-to-one contest against BN in the next general election,” he added.
The local opposition parties have been working alongside each other in recent years and have been promoting a Sabah for Sabahan struggle.
They have also publicly invited Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s new party, Parti Warisan Sabah into their alliance.
Both Shafie and former Sabah PKR chief Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, who now leads Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah have indicated interest in working with parties which share a similar agenda for Sabah.
