Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Pakatan Harapan will respect Barisan Nasional’s decision not to cooperate with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah for the next Sabah state election.
The PH chairman said his coalition will continue to discuss the matter and find a solution.
“PH will continue to discuss matters with BN and GRS. We will negotiate in good faith and find a solution,” Bernama reported him as saying in Kuala Lumpur today.
Last night, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said following a series of discussions, BN and Sabah Umno had decided “once and for all” that there will be no cooperation with GRS.
“BN, PH and GRS previously agreed to form a technical committee and conducted several rounds of negotiations in both Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.
“After reviewing the facts and details of the three-party talks, I conveyed to Sabah Umno the leadership’s decision … that it has decided to maintain the BN-PH cooperation,” Sinar Harian reported him as saying.
Zahid, who is also the Umno president and a deputy prime minister, said the technical committee was formed after Anwar stressed the need to avoid three-cornered contests among the three coalitions in the state election.
PH has reached separate pacts with GRS and BN ahead of the polls, although the two coalitions have refused to work together despite Anwar’s urging.
GRS and PH are currently allies in the Hajiji Noor state government, while BN sits in the opposition in the Sabah assembly.
