Pandikar officiating the launching of Usno’s new slogan, “Suara Baru, Peduli Rakyat” (New Voice, Care for the People) during the roadshow.
KOTA KINABALU (Feb 23): United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) has sworn no blind loyalty to any party that threatens its struggle.
The party’s self-proclaimed maverick leader, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, extended the stance to even friendly parties inside Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), threatening to exit the ruling coalition should it ever betray its “Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga” (Our Home, Our Responsibility) slogan.
Pandikar said to him, the definition of the slogan is a group of local parties, which is what Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was aiming for when he left Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to form GRS in 2022, and it is this exact slogan that is tying all eight members of the coalition together.
The veteran politician, who is also GRS deputy chairman, reiterated once again that GRS should contest all 73 seats in the coming state elections solo, stressing that he wants to prevent this building that is GRS from crumbling to the whims of outside forces or Malayan parties.
He described the 73 state seats in Sabah as rooms in a longhouse divided into eight families.
If, for example, a big family from Malaya asked for 20 rooms in this longhouse, he instead suggested those with influence and power to build another house right beside it before even offering to work together.
“These 73 seats should be GRS’ to contest from the beginning, because this house is our responsibility.
“For an idiot like myself, the definition of the ‘Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga’ slogan is exactly what it is – it is our house, we take care of it. Our kitchen, we make the menu, not others.
“If this definition is somehow interpreted as ‘Rumah Kita, Orang Lain Berkuasa’ (Our House, Other People In Power), then Usno does not want to be involved with GRS,” he said at an Usno roadshow near Inanam on Saturday.
Pandikar then praised Hajiji for walking his talk in wanting local parties, recalling that he had resisted the barrage of criticisms that came before GRS was registered as a political entity and he was still in Bersatu, all for the sake of realising the local parties goal.
What this means, said the former Dewan Rakyat Speaker, is that before determining any election cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Barisan Nasional (BN), GRS must stick to this conviction set by Hajiji.
“When the Chief Minister says that we must work with the Federal Government, it is all political talk to ensure stability, because he is the head of the government.
“It would not be logical for Hajiji to be like Pandikar and just simply start shouting at the Prime Minister.
“These are all political moves and maneuvres. That is what politics is about. It’s an art. Skills, negotation.
“Why? There is no more blind loyalty nowadays. Loyalty cannot be bought.
“If I give you my loyalty, I will go all the way with you, even to the grave.
“But if you buy my loyalty just because somebody is threatening you, then no, I do not want to be part of that. That’s enough,” he said.
Despite being a very outspoken leader, Pandikar assured that his relationship with other GRS leaders is all good and they have no problem sitting at the same table, rather expressing concerns of any friction at the grassroots level.
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