Usno Chief Switches To Support Grs Ph Alliance

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 Pandikar Amin Mulia says his decision came after GRS chief Hajiji Noor pledged that the coalition would contest more than 50 of the 73 state assembly seats.
Pandikar Amin Mulia said he had ‘amplified the voice of (STAR president) Jeffrey Kitingan’ when previously urging GRS to contest on its own. (Wikipedia pic)PETALING JAYA: Pandikar Amin Mulia, the president of United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) has backed the decision by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah to form an alliance with Pakatan Harapan for the coming state election
Pandikar said he supported the decision by the coalition’s chairman Hajiji Noor as “long as the deal benefits GRS, in that the seat allocation ratio favours GRS”. Usno is a GRS component.
He said that Hajiji had discussed the matter with him and given an assurance that GRS would field candidates in more than 50 of the 73 state seats, The Star reported.
“This to me is a stand that is within the scope of the definition of GRS’s war cry ‘Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga,’” he was quoted as saying.
Pandikar explained his change of position from earlier this year when he said Usno might go solo in the state election if it remained sidelined within GRS.
He and his counterparts, Jeffrey Kitingan of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Yong Teck Lee of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), had previously pushed for GRS to go solo.
He said today: “I admit that I have amplified the voice of Datuk Dr Jeffrey, that whoever works with Malaya parties are traitors.”
Pandikar had also stated then that Usno had been dismissed by some GRS leaders after his party demanded seats to contest in the state polls.
His concerns prompted a meeting between Hajiji and the presidents of the other GRS members, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party and Parti Cinta Sabah.
Hajiji is also president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat). - FMT

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