KOTA KINABALU, Nov 23 — Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) information chief Datuk Raime Unggi today called for calm amidst reports of a 'war' between the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and BN government.
He said any unhappiness between the leaders of the two coalitions should not affect the stability of the state government.
"For us in Sabah BN, we will concede any decision made by our central leadership, but at the same time, we should continue the good relationship we have built,” he said in a statement here this afternoon.
He said that as the country waits for a decision on the formation of the Federal government, leaders from both sides should be cautious in issuing statements that could be construed as offensive.
"On who supports who, they the higher authorities decide,” he said.
He agreed with his GRS counterpart Datuk Joniston Bangkuai that the stability of the state should come first.
"The situation in Kuala Lumpur is quite 'hot' right now, but I believe that our relationship can withstand the conflict that is being peddled by some to say that our alliance is wavering,” he said.
Last Monday, Bung accused Sabah chief minister and GRS chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor of reneging on a deal for the latter to support BN in the formation of a new federal government.
Bung said that Hajiji broke their pact by supporting Perikatan Nasional to form a new government and also supported candidates from another party, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat, and an independent candidate in contesting GE15.
Hajiji, in a statement yesterday, denied "starting a war” and said that any deal they had made was off the table when BN lost the election and failed to put up a prime minister candidate.
Their tiff raised questions about the stability of the state government which is headed by the two coalitions who were at odds at the national level.
Hajiji however, said that he hoped the two coalitions would continue their alliance to administer Sabah together.
