PAPAR: Decisions regarding which parties will form alliances for Sabah's 17th State Election (PRN17) should be left entirely to the state's party leaders.
Expressing this view, Deputy Secretary-General of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said that there should be no pressure from any external leaders.
He said that any form of coercion to urge any party or coalition to cooperate could impact voter behaviour in the upcoming state election.
"For me, let it be decided by Sabahans, Sabah leaders themselves; there should be no pressure from any external party in determining who joins whom.
"This is because Sabahans cannot be forced. In elections, we know from past experience that if forced, even independent candidates can win," he said when speaking to the media after assessing traffic conditions at Jalan Lok Kawi - Papar near Kinarut today.
He was commenting on potential alliances between GRS and other parties, particularly Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah, in preparation for PRN17, which is expected soon.
He said that in a democratic process, any party should have the freedom to decide who they wish to join forces with as a team or political bloc in the election.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living minister added that aside from decisions made by state leaders, the important goal is not only to win the election but also to establish a stable, harmonious, and cooperative government.
"In Sabah, our people need a stable and committed government, and we want to build a more conducive relationship structure between the state and federal governments.
"We hope that one day, Sabah will not have to continuously appeal to the federal government, but with our rights, resources, and a strong economy, we will have the strength to implement necessary projects for our people in Sabah," he said.
Meanwhile, Armizan, who is also the Member of Parliament for Papar, said that if any party is interested in forming a partnership with GRS, particularly opposition parties, they should start showing interest now.
"We have a year left (before PRN), so cooperate with the government. Show sincerity, not just a desire for cooperation while criticising and attacking us daily.
"There's no problem with constructive criticism, but sometimes people speak as if they have never held a government position or had any authority.
"For example, on migration issues, Sabahans have had to work in Peninsular Malaysia not just since GRS came to power but for decades, including people from the areas represented by those making such comments," he said.