KOTA KINABALU, Nov 6 — Starting over in Sabah after a mass exodus in 2020, Perikatan Nasional (PN) is now positioning itself as a credible national alternative in the coming Sabah state election, said state coalition leader Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee.
Kiandee, who also chairs Bersatu Sabah, said PN’s goal was not just to win seats but to be in the position to form the next government.
“It’s not about the number of seats — what’s important is to be in the position to form the government,” he said in a recent interview.
Kiandee, a six-term MP, is the sole Bersatu elected representative in Sabah after the mass defections led by chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in 2022 following the general election (GE15) to support the new federal government.
Tasked with rebuilding the party from scratch, he said Bersatu was back up on its feet with 24 out of 25 division chiefs.
“Only Tenom remains vacant. All branches are intact, and we’ve held our AGMs for the past two years. Bersatu remains active and registered,” he said.
Fighting for Sabah’s rights through national leadership
On the “hot button” topic of Sabah for Sabahans, Kiandee said it was not new and a topic that was brought up during election periods.
“But MA63 shouldn’t be politicised. Whether you’re in a Sabah-based or national party, all of us want to see Sabah’s rights fulfilled; every Sabahan shares the same aspiration,” he said.
MA63 refers to the Malaysia Agreement 1963, a document which has been the cornerstone for Sabah’s leaders in their struggle for the reinstatement of the state’s rights which was put in place during the formation of Malaysia but has gradually been eroded over the last few decades.
Kiandee believes that the best way for the state to get what it deserves was for its leaders to be in the federal government, adding that PN’s approach was to advocate for Sabah’s rights as part of a national platform, arguing that working from within the federal structure would achieve more meaningful reforms.
“My definition of Sabah for Sabahans is not anti-federal sentiments. We must fight for Sabah’s rights within Malaysia.
“To truly uplift Sabah, we need Sabahans in key national positions. Imagine a Sabahan as Finance Minister — then we’ll see real attention from Putrajaya,” he said.
He said that PN will honour the 40 per cent revenue share if it was in the federal government.
“I will advise the Prime Minister not to appeal the court decision. The principle is clear — no compromise,” he said.
The upcoming election
PN’s candidate line-up would include new, younger and “untarnished” faces in areas such as Sugut, Sepanggar and Sekong, alongside experienced leaders.
“We will be a force to be reckoned with. I’m not ashamed to be with PN this election — I see the bigger picture,” he said, explaining that its narrative would be focused on restoring state rights under the MA63 and rebuilding confidence in federal representation
He said the coalition, made up of Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan, would finalise seat negotiations soon, adding that Bersatu planned to contest in more constituencies than PAS.
Kiandee expressed confidence that voters, especially the younger generation, would evaluate coalitions based on national prospects rather than state-based sentiments.
“Sabahans are smart — they look at who can form a strong government in Kuala Lumpur. I believe this generation sees politics through a national lens, and PN will be their choice,” he said.
