Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (centre) cutting cake in conjunction with the party's 36th anniversary. - NSTP/ RECQUEAL RAIMI
Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (centre) cutting cake in conjunction with the party's 36th anniversary. - NSTP/ RECQUEAL RAIMI

TUARAN: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is ready to take on United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) in the Tuaran parliamentary seat for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.

Its president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said this when met by the media after launching the 36th and 37th Tamparuli PBS Annual General Meeting at the Tun Hamdan Tamparuli Community Hall, here.

He said the Tamparuli and Kiulu state constituencies are PBS' strongholds and he felt confident that they would be able to capture Tuaran from UPKO.

"We expect the general election to be held by next year at the latest and Tuaran is among the areas we are fully focused on.

"The PBS machinery is also ready in every Tuaran area and this is further strengthened with the addition of members and branches.

"Our party will grow further, and our two assemblymen in Kiulu, as well as Tamparuli, are serving the grassroots well," said Ongkili who is the Member of Parliament for Kota Marudu.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) also stressed that the PBS, which is under the newly formalised GRS coalition, will continue to fight for the rights of Sabah and its people.