The Malaysian Insight

PARTI Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has denied DAP’s claim that it is in an official alliance with PAS heading into the Sandakan by-election.

PBS president Maximus Ongkili said the party remains an independent with “a lot of friends”.

He accused DAP of playing the religion card, with the Pakatan Harapan component’s polls campaigners saying “a vote for PBS is a vote for PAS”.

“They are lying to the people. It just so happens that PBS has a lot of friends. The Sabah Progressive Party, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, United Sabah National Organisation, Umno and PAS are with us in Sandakan.

“The only partner we probably have is Gabungan Bersatu Sabah, but that still has to be registered with the Registrar of Societies,” he told The Malaysian Insight on the by-election campaign trail today.

Last night, DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo said PAS is cooperating with PBS, and that the Islamist party’s leaders have turned a blind eye to corruption and power abuse after forging a partnership with Umno.

He warned Sandakan folk that voting for PBS in Saturday’s polls would be choosing a candidate who ignores such crimes.

Ongkili said PBS’ relationship with PAS is “merely a form of cooperation” and not formal.

He said DAP and PKR were the ones that teamed up with PAS in the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

“As far as I can recall, PBS never worked with PAS before. But, we welcome them now as they support our candidate.”

The Sandakan parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of Stephen Wong Thien Fatt, of DAP, due to a heart attack on March 28.

Early voting is being held today.

The polls see Wong’s daughter, Vivian, seeking to retain the seat for DAP. She is up against PBS’ Linda Tsen Thau Lin, who is former Batu Sapi MP, and three independents. – May 7, 2019.