GRS logo for Sabah-based parties only, not PH, says LDP man

PETALING JAYA: A leader of a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component says the coalition’s logo should only be exclusive to Sabah-based parties that are members of GRS.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) vice-president David Ong said Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates who want to contest on the Sabah coalition’s ticket should first leave PH and join a GRS component, Borneo Post reported.

“It would be inconsistent with the spirit and identity of GRS for those who remain members of peninsular-based political parties to seek election under the GRS banner.

“The GRS logo belongs to GRS components. No individual or external political party should assume they are entitled to use the GRS logo simply because it may be politically advantageous,” he said, according to the Sarawak-based daily.

Ong added that GRS’s emblem is more than a logo. It represents the aspirations of Sabahans for a stronger voice in charting the state’s future and safeguarding its rights under the constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“GRS must remain true to its founding purpose as a coalition of local parties fighting for Sabah’s rights, autonomy and development. The people of Sabah supported GRS because it represents a local political movement that prioritises Sabah’s interests,” he said.

Sabah PH previously denied discussing using GRS’s logo in the next general election (GE16), describing a news report making the claim as “misleading”.

Its chief, Mustapha Sakmud, did not dismiss the possibility of using GRS’s logo but said the matter had yet to be officially discussed within Sabah PH, Utusan Borneo reported.