KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has reiterated its unwavering stance on Sabah-centric governance and state rights following recent remarks by Sabah Umno Information Chief and Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir.
Responding to Suhaimi’s statement, PBS Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said there was no need for a prolonged exchange, asserting that PBS remains grounded in the principle that Sabah must be led by parties based in the state and driven by Sabah’s own realities.
“As a member of PBS and GRS, I remain clear on the principles we stand for — that Sabah should be led by political parties that are not only based in the state, but whose direction and decisions are shaped entirely by Sabah’s realities and priorities, not by external influence,” Joniston said in a statement today.
Joniston Bangkuai
Joniston, who is also the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Information Chief, stressed that PBS has always been consistent in its struggle to uphold local leadership, protect Sabah’s dignity and defend the rights of its people.
“While PBS does not claim a flawless history, we have never strayed from our founding mission. From the beginning, we have consistently championed state autonomy, fair treatment within the Federation and the protection of Sabah’s voice and future,” he added.
Joniston also took aim at critics who revisit PBS’s past decisions for political mileage, accusing them of ignoring the underlying intent and evolution of the party’s journey.
“There are those who revisit our past for political convenience. In doing so, they often overlook the intent behind our decisions. More importantly, they ignore that what PBS stood for in the past is now being widely echoed and adopted as political messaging by others,” he said.
He pointed out that PBS was once criticised for speaking out on state rights and advocating stronger local leadership — positions that are now gaining broader support.
“Our political journey is well documented. It has gone through alliances, re-alignments, and hard lessons. But through all that, PBS has remained consistent in its cause,” he said.
Reflecting on PBS’s decision to exit Barisan Nasional (BN), Joniston said the move was made only after careful reflection on whether the coalition continued to serve Sabah’s aspirations.
“For PBS, our political decisions are always based on that core question: is this good for Sabah?” he said.
He reaffirmed PBS’s support for GRS, saying the coalition reflects the same values PBS has long upheld — a focus on local priorities and meaningful development.
“Our decision to be part of GRS was made with a clear sense of purpose. We are working alongside local parties that understand Sabah’s priorities and are committed to meaningful development. GRS reflects the same values PBS has long upheld and we are confident in this cooperation,” he said.
Joniston also addressed Suhaimi’s personal jab labelling him as “kebudak-budakan” (childish), saying PBS’s relevance lies not in past affiliations but in its consistent defence of Sabah’s rights and future.
“To us in PBS, the party’s relevance is not shaped by past affiliations. It is defined by how we serve, how consistently we defend Sabah’s rights and how committed we remain to building a stronger future for our state,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the direction of the GRS-led State Government and its collaboration with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
“With GRS at the helm of the State Government, we can already see the lights at the end of the tunnel. The State Government’s engagement with the Federal Government has borne some very positive outcomes,” he said.
Among these, Joniston highlighted the significant increase in the Federal special annual grant from just over RM50 million to RM600 million and the continued pursuit of the 40 per cent net revenue entitlement due to Sabah under the Federal Constitution.
He also lauded the signing of the Commercial Collaborative Agreement (CCA) between the State Government and Petronas, which allows greater participation of local companies in the oil and gas sector and has helped boost Sabah’s revenue to RM6.9 billion last year.
“Together with GRS, PBS looks forward to a much brighter future for Sabah,” he said.
