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Former Sabah Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan has come out on the campaign to win support for the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidates today.
The PBS founder first went to Kiulu, a party stronghold since its formation in 1985. In the evening, he traveled to Moyog, a semi-urban state seat under the federal Penampang constituency that was won by Ignatius Darell Leiking of Warisan in 2018 .
In his 45-minute speech in Kiulu, Pairin (up, middle) reminded a crowd of around 150 how the party he founded came to power to fight a “cruel” state government.
“There was a restriction on religious (freedom) and the influx of illegal immigrants. People were restless. PBS was created by the people to fight cruelty and injustice,” he said.
He also explained how PBS considered itself an opposition party at the time, so when they took over state government after the 1985 elections, they were “harassed” by the federal government.
In current state polls, he said PBS is on a mission to save Sabah from security problems and illegal immigrants.
Those in attendance during Pairin’s speech appeared to be a mostly middle-aged group wearing white party shirts and white caps. They listened to him in silence and nodded frequently.
The event was also attended by some 10 village chiefs who were previously appointed by the Warisan state government but have since joined PBS.
An elderly audience member also caught up with Pairin and showed off his PBS cap that he had kept for 35 years.
PBS came to power in Sabah in 1985 as an opposition party, but lost some luster after joining the ruling BN. This time, the party is choosing to use its own logo in state elections and is insisting on state pride and the problems of illegal immigrants.
Pairin, who is Huguan Siou (supreme leader) of the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) community, appeared to take on the role of star activist for the PBS candidates in the absence of his nephew and PBS president, Maximus Johnity Ongkili.
The 80-year-old appeared to dominate party affairs as he rejected the idea that PBS could withdraw from participating in state elections. This was after Perikatan Nasional (PN) Secretary General Hamzah Zainudin said that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) allies agreed not to compete with each other for 17 seats.
Read more: Sabah Decides 2020: Making sense of players, parties and battles
Pairin was speaking in Kiulu: The state electorate is being challenged by PBS ‘incumbent state assemblyman for two terms, Joniston Bangkuai.
Joniston is being challenged by Sabah’s incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau in a six-way fight.
According to a party official, Pairin began campaigning in Tulid, a new state seat created under the Pensiangan parliamentary seat.
Pensiangan is firmly supported by the Vice President of the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) Arthur Joseph Kurup (Photo) who won the BN coalition seat in the last three general elections.
The party official also said that Pairin will go to Tamparuli, Inanam and Limbahau tomorrow.
It is known that the PBS leader can also go to the birthplace of his party in Tambunan, a state seat firmly held by Pairin himself until the 2018 elections when he lost to his brother Jeffrey Kitingan of the Solidarity with the Homeland Party (Star). .
Follow Malaysiakini’s coverage of the Sabah state elections here.
