'We are moving on our own': Aliakbar confirms PN stance amidst new Sabah government formation

KOTA KINABALU – Perikatan Nasional (PN) has chosen, for now, to navigate the state’s political landscape independently, said PN Sabah Deputy Chairman, Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan.

He said that this stance was taken when asked by Sinar whether the coalition would be part of the new state government after Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was sworn in early Sunday morning as the Sabah Chief Minister following the 17th Sabah State Election.

“For now, PN is moving on its own,” he said briefly when asked about the possibility of a new political cooperation in the post-state election period.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on voter tendencies in certain areas, Aliakbar, who successfully won PN’s first-ever seat in the State Legislative Assembly in Karambunai, stressed that Sabahans have their own approach in evaluating political candidates.

He said voters often base their choices on a candidate’s personality and capability, rather than merely looking at party affiliation and also claimed that 'money politics' does not influence them.

“Yes, that’s true. Sabahans tend to choose the person. Sabahans are also not bound by ‘money politics’,” he said.

Aliakbar won the Karambunai seat with 7,054 votes in an 11-cornered contest in last Saturday’s election, which also saw the incumbent from Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Yakub Khan defending the seat.

Earlier, Hajiji of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), who secured 29 seats, was reported to have formed the state government with the support of other parties including Pakatan Harapan (PH), which won one seat, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) with three seats, as well as five independent candidates who won in their respective constituencies.

This brings the total support to 38 seats, enough to form the state government.