Latest news with #Aliakbar
The Star
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah PAS at a crossroads as state polls near
SANDAKAN: As Sabah gears up for its 17th state election, Sabah PAS finds itself at a political crossroads – a Perikatan Nasional component party in the Opposition at federal level, yet friendly with the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition. However, Sabah PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan stressed that the party's political direction remains with Perikatan. 'As of now, I feel I'm still among those who are friendly with GRS because it is part of the government, and that's based on the political history that began in 2020. "As for what will happen in the state election, if I look at the other parties, none of them have made a decision either. ALSO READ: Sabah PAS yet to finalise under which party logo to contest 'Everyone is still looking for friends, coalitions, and so on. In the context of Sabah, I think what's clear is that PAS remains within Perikatan. So any discussions are still centred on Perikatan,' he said after officiating the Karnival Keluarga Sandakan 2025 here on Saturday (June 14). Last month, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party aimed to contest at least six seats in Sabah, possibly under a different logo as part of a broader coalition strategy. Aliakbar, however, said no specific number of seats has been decided, and the party has yet to begin formal negotiations with any potential allies. 'For now, we are focused on strengthening our organisation within Perikatan,' he said. He also cautioned politicians against fanning regional sentiments ahead of the polls, warning that such rhetoric could threaten national unity. ALSO READ: Sabah PAS 'comfortable' with GRS, says state commissioner 'Sometimes, before elections, we act like there's a separation between the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak. If we keep stirring that, it could lead to bigger conflicts or long-term segregation,' he said. On candidates, Aliakbar said PAS intends to field credible and honest individuals with strong religious grounding and a clear understanding of the responsibility of leadership. 'If politicians don't understand the concept of sin and reward, they could fall into corruption or abuse of power,' he said. Although PAS has yet to win a seat in Sabah, the party will continue its community outreach and leave it to the public to evaluate its performance, Aliakbar said. His appointment as the first PAS-nominated assemblyman in Sabah in 2020 drew criticism from some state leaders and civil society groups, who viewed the party as too extreme for Sabah's multireligious and culturally diverse landscape. ALSO READ: Sabah PAS invites non-Muslims to join as associate members While concerns were raised about the potential impact on social harmony, PAS leaders sought to downplay the backlash, stressing that their priority in Sabah was service and inclusivity. Despite the early controversy, Aliakbar has remained the party's sole nominated assemblyman and continues to openly support the GRS-led state government. PAS became part of the Sabah government following the 2020 state election, when Perikatan aligned with GRS and Barisan Nasional to form the state administration after defeating Parti Warisan. In 2022, following the 15th General Election, Perikatan became the federal Opposition. Its position in Sabah also shifted after Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and several state leaders left Bersatu.
Daily Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah PAS open to GRS alliance despite remaining in PN
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 By: Faiz Zainudin, FMT Text Size: PETALING JAYA: Sabah PAS has signalled its willingness to support Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the upcoming state election, citing confidence in chief minister Hajiji Noor's leadership. State PAS commissioner Aliakbar Gulasan said while the party remains part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, it was open to discussions for political cooperation ahead of the polls. Advertisement Speaking to FMT, Aliakbar said PAS was ready to contest under the banner of any coalition it partners with. 'We are looking for suitable partners who share our principles,' he said. 'Honestly, I must say that Sabah under Hajiji's leadership has been excellent compared to previous chief ministers. My colleagues and I in PAS are open to supporting GRS.' He added that PAS hopes to contest at least six out of the 73 state seats up for grabs – primarily in Muslim-majority constituencies – and emphasised that any candidate fielded must prioritise Sabah's development. Advertisement 'PAS could become a kingmaker for any political partner we work with,' he said. There are a total of 79 seats in the state assembly, six of which are filled by appointment. PAS has never won any state assembly seat in Sabah, although Aliakbar is one of the six nominated members. PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said seat allocations had yet to be finalised but confirmed that the party was exploring cooperation with local entities, including GRS. On Sunday, PAS deputy election director Annuar Musa said PN should support GRS in the upcoming Sabah polls as Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional had already announced their own alliance. Annuar, a former Umno secretary-general, said PN should study the option of contesting under the GRS banner, or sit out the polls altogether. Sabah PN chairman Ronald Kiandee however criticised Annuar for his comments, saying he should have brought the matter up at the coalition's Supreme Council meeting before airing his views in public. Kiandee said Sabah's ever-shifting political landscape made it challenging for any party, including PN, to take a firm stance on alliances. - FMT * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
PAS to contest Sabah polls with eye on Karambunai, open to alliances with GRS, BN, Perikatan and Warisan
KOTA KINABALU, April 27 — Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) will contest in the 17th Sabah state elections, announced PAS Sabah chief Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan. While he did not disclose the exact number of seats the party is targeting, he indicated that PAS is not eyeing many constituencies, with Karambunai — currently held by Datuk Yakub Khan (Barisan Nasional – Umno) — among the areas of interest. Aliakbar, who also serves as the state chapter's first nominated assemblyman, did not rule out the possibility of standing as a candidate himself. He clarified that PAS would not contest the elections alone, and is currently in discussions with potential cooperation partners, citing the political climate that favours teamwork for stability and development. Informal talks have been held with various parties, and Aliakbar said PAS remains open to alliances with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN), or Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan). 'If only one political party governs, it might be difficult to develop Sabah. It could also lead to more conflicts, so it is better to form a coalition first,' he said during PAS Sabah's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house near Sepanggar yesterday. Aliakbar acknowledged the lingering scepticism of Sabahans towards PAS but expressed confidence that their selected candidates would serve the rakyat well. He added that PAS Sabah, which now has about 20,000 members, has been actively engaging in grassroots efforts to strengthen its presence in the state. Regarding the selection of candidates, Aliakbar noted that while the state chapter has autonomy to propose names, the final decision rests with the party's central leadership. — The Borneo Post
Borneo Post
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
PAS to contest in Sabah polls, open to forming coalitions
KOTA KINABALU (April 26): Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) will contest in the 17th Sabah state elections, announced PAS Sabah chief Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan. While he did not disclose the exact number of seats the party is targeting, he indicated that PAS is not eyeing many constituencies, with Karambunai — currently held by Datuk Yakub Khan (Barisan Nasional – Umno) — among the areas of interest. Aliakbar, who also serves as the state chapter's first nominated assemblyman, did not rule out the possibility of standing as a candidate himself. He clarified that PAS would not contest the elections alone, and is currently in discussions with potential cooperation partners, citing the political climate that favors teamwork for stability and development. Informal talks have been held with various parties, and Aliakbar said PAS remains open to alliances with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN), or Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan). 'If only one political party governs, it might be difficult to develop Sabah. It could also lead to more conflicts, so it is better to form a coalition first,' he said during PAS Sabah's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house near Sepanggar on Saturday. Aliakbar acknowledged the lingering skepticism of Sabahans towards PAS but expressed confidence that their selected candidates would serve the rakyat well. He added that PAS Sabah, which now has about 20,000 members, has been actively engaging in grassroots efforts to strengthen its presence in the state. Regarding the selection of candidates, Aliakbar noted that while the state chapter has autonomy to propose names, the final decision rests with the party's central leadership.
The Star
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah PAS yet to finalise under which party logo to contest
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PAS has not finalised under which party logo to contest, says its chief Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan. He said, though PAS is aligned with Perikatan Nasional at the federal level, it was friendly with the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition at the state level. 'We are also looking at contesting a few seats with strong supporters' presence in the coming state election,' Aliakbar said when speaking to reporters at the party's Hari Raya open house here, Saturday (April 26). 'The party needs to consider the best approach when it comes to possible pacts and party logos,' he added. He said Sabah PAS has over 20,000 members currently, with areas such as Sepanggar, Tawau and Putatan having among the highest numbers at present. Aliakbar said with their current membership strength, they believe PAS can assist their political partners in the constituencies they contest. "I think you journalists can guess some of them. Karambunai could be among our targets," he said. Asked about the public acceptance of PAS in Sabah, he admitted there were still negative sentiments about the party, but hopes that the public can view the candidates they present without prejudice. Even his appointment as the nominated assemblyman following the 16th state election in 2020 drew criticism seeing how the party did not win any seats in Sabah. Sabah is scheduled to hold its 17th state election by November this year.
