KIULU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is seeking to reinvent its political struggle and has titled its mission "The Kiulu Charge".
The party's Kiulu division held its 35th annual general meeting here earlier today, with its president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili declaring that its new struggle begins in Kiulu.
"After 36 years in steadfast political struggle as the oldest native party in Sabah, PBS can declare it is here to stay and regrow from strength to strength.
"At the last state election, PBS proved we are no longer a pushover party. We used our own flag and with limited internal resources, PBS won seven seats.
"PBS members and supporters can hold our heads high that our key political maxims have never changed," he said in a statement.
The Kiulu Division meeting was chaired by its Division Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is also PBS Secretary-General and Kiulu assemblyman.
Ongkili said PBS, having been around for over three decades, has been the defender of Sabah's rights as stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, is anti-illegal immigrant and anti-hopping, among others.
"Sabahans have known us very well. Some may have gotten and tired of listening to our repetitive stands and core values, but these are reflective of our party constitution.
"We do not and will never apologise as these have been the bread and butter issues which founding leader Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan majored in when he first formed PBS," said Ongkili, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs).
He said with new political parties emerging in the last 10 years, PBS is aware of the sentiments of some Sabahans that the kind of matters championed by PBS were getting "outdated".
The Kota Marudu MP stressed such sentiments have changed as more Sabahans are now committed to defend the rights and security of Sabah especially from illegal foreigners.
"The future of PBS lies in inculcating these core values into the lives of the young people of Sabah.
"The world is changing and facing enormous problems both economic and medical matters. In the midst of all these, Sabahans are more determined to preserve their state and defend it from the intrusion of illegal foreigners," he said.
Ongkili urged the younger wings of PBS to be faithful to the party's political struggle and to spread the maxims of its struggle as well as recruit young members, especially young professionals.
"Spread the message wide and create a rippling effect of love for Sabah and passion and respect for the country.
"The party's charge to members of the party is to hold fast to these political goals and to reject politics of race and religion to restore the good values of Sabahan culture," he said.
He said PBS would embark on a membership recruitment drive, especially among young professionals, and training programmes so that the party will be "a powerhouse of good values and ethically principled politics" that will create leaders of tomorrow for Sabah.
"As I speak overlooking the banks of the idyllic fast flowing Kiulu river, I pray that PBS will grow from strength to strength, proud that we have contributed to the building of a state and nation that will make all of us proud.
"Just like the rapids of the Kiulu river whose strength brings about even the most challenging of white water rafting sports, may PBS continue to be strong and a source of unity and prosperity for our orang Sabah (the people of Sabah)," he said.
