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SABAH SURVEYS | Negotiations between the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) parties to resolve the disputes over 17 seats are still ongoing, Bersatu supreme council member Azmin Ali said.
“I believe that the wisdom of the leaders of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will lead to a resolution in the family spirit (GRS).
“This is because the hopes and aspirations of GRS members and associates are to establish a new government in Sabah that is in line with the federal government.
“This will bring many benefits to Sabah. That is our focus, and I am sure that we will soon see positive and conducive developments,” Azmin said.
To achieve this, Azmin said that GRS’s approach was to ensure that only one of its candidates ran for the 17 seats, in order to face the Warisan Plus candidate.
Azmin said this when asked to comment on PBS’s decision not to withdraw from the election for any of its candidates, while Perikatan Nasional General Secretary Hamzah Zainuddin hopes to reach an agreement by tomorrow.
Read more: Sabah Decides 2020: Making sense of players, parties and battles
Under Section 9 of the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981, a candidate may withdraw before 10 a.m.
Therefore, the ongoing negotiations were designed to force some of the GRS candidates to give in by publicly backing another GRS candidate from a different party.
Azmin spoke to reporters after a campaign event in Keningau for the GRS-PN-Star candidates for Bingkor and Tambunan. PBS is running candidates for both seats, which is currently held by Star.
Star President Jeffrey Kitingan, Azmin said, was respected by PBS and other GRS parties. Therefore, he is confident that the former will be able to reach a peaceful resolution.
Kitingan will defend the Tambunan seat against five candidates, including popular Dusun singer Jimmy Palikat.
At Bingkor, Robert Tawik will defend the Bingkor seat against five candidates.
Follow Malaysiakini’s coverage of the Sabah state elections here.
