Contesting or not, we’ll be there for Sabah polls, says Pejuang

KOTA KINABALU: Pejuang will make its presence felt in the next Sabah election, with or without fielding candidates.

Its president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (pic) said its aim is not to demand seat allocations but rather to contribute to developing the nation.

“Our brand of politics is not purely to secure candidates in certain constituencies. That is not the end goal.

“The end goal is to contribute towards developing the people. We did not go into politics demanding particular seats for specific individuals. That is not our approach.“Hopefully the other political parties do not look at us as a threat, but as a party that perhaps provides some added value towards the people’s wellbeing,” he said.The next Sabah state election is due by the end of 2025.

Speaking to reporters after the party’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration here yesterday, Mukhriz said Pejuang, however, is willing to work with political parties in Sabah, including Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties.“Informally, we have engaged with several smaller political parties. These interactions are about building partnerships for the benefit of Sabahans.

“Some GRS leaders and I were from Umno together before we joined Bersatu; now I am with Pejuang and they formed their party. That fostered a sense of trust and mutual understanding between us,” he said.

Mukhriz acknowledged that Sabah’s political landscape differs from the peninsula and that as such, the party’s strategy is different over here.

“In the peninsula, we are very open to Perikatan Nasional, and in fact, directly or indirectly, we will participate in the campaign for its candidate in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

“But that does not mean we cannot look at it differently in Sabah. It is a different ball game altogether, so the formula is different from the peninsula,” he said.

Mukhriz said although its numbers are small in Sabah, the quality of support is paramount for Pejuang, with its priority on “sincerity and dedication to the party’s principles” over mere numerical strength.