Dr Christoper Mandut
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth Chief Datuk Dr Christoper Mandut has hit back at Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin’s statement, calling it “defensive, bitter and riddled with contradictions.”
He said PBS never claimed to have received an official offer from Barisan Nasional (BN), but simply made clear its position that the party will not cooperate with BN in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17).
“Whether or not an invitation was extended is beside the point. We are stating our stand, which is our democratic right – not imagining things. It is called principle,” he said in a statement today.
His comments came in response to Bung’s remark that PBS was rejecting “something that was never offered,” while accusing the party of political irrelevance and historical betrayal.
Dr Christoper questioned the logic of such attacks, saying that if PBS was truly insignificant, there would be no reason for Sabah Umno to dedicate an entire press release to the party.
“The contradiction speaks for itself,” he said, adding that the hostility from Bung appeared to reflect a sense of insecurity rather than genuine political confidence.
He emphasised that PBS, as one of Sabah’s oldest and most established political parties, remained focused on its core struggle – upholding Sabah’s rights and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“We have a clear political track record and continue to resonate with generations of Sabahans. Unlike some, we don’t need to tear others down to stay relevant,” he added.
Responding to accusations that PBS had “jumped coalitions” and “betrayed allies,” Dr Christoper turned the spotlight on Umno’s own political realignments over the years, urging Bung to reflect on his own party’s history.
“Politics is not static. Parties realign based on the needs of the people they represent. What matters is whether those choices are made in the interest of the rakyat – not out of personal ambition,” he stressed.
He also rejected Bung’s remarks that PBS was merely “clinging to the coattails of others,” saying that the party remained a proactive and constructive partner in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government.
Dr Christoper called for maturity and respect in political discourse ahead of the coming election, warning that Sabahans were watching and deserved better than “petty personal attacks and theatrics.”
“Let’s rise above insults and name-calling. The people are intelligent and they know who is working sincerely for them, and who is only making noise in the media,” he said.
