RANAU (Nov 16): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate for the Kundasang state seat, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, has urged coalition supporters to strengthen unity following an unprecedented 10-cornered contest in the constituency for the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN).
Dr Joachim, the incumbent assemblyman and caretaker Deputy Chief Minister, said the situation was not unique to Kundasang, as the Paginatan seat is also facing a 10-cornered fight, while Karanaan is seeing a seven-cornered contest.
“This shows that we must strengthen unity within GRS even though we come from different parties. Unity in diversity is the key to our strength. In GRS, we learn to work together and not act like heroes whose actions divide the coalition,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing supporters after being officially announced as the GRS candidate at the Nomination Centre located at the Ranau Community Hall yesterday.
Dr Joachim, who is also acting president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), stressed that the people must also stand united to ensure that development agendas in their respective areas can continue.
“There must be cooperation. That is our main message, to strengthen GRS in this election,” he added.
Also present were GRS candidate for Karanaan, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who is also GRS secretary-general, and GRS candidate for Paginatan, Datuk Abidin Madingkir.
Dr Joachim also reminded supporters of GRS’ achievements over the past five years as the ruling coalition in Sabah, including managing the state’s economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said state revenue reached nearly RM7 billion and continued to increase, while Sabah’s financial reserves remain strong.
“As a result, we are now more advanced economically, with increased state revenue and very healthy financial reserves,” he said.
Dr Joachim prayed for a smooth and safe campaign period and expressed hope that GRS would secure victory to maintain leadership in Ranau in particular, and Sabah in general.
In the previous 16th Sabah State Election, Dr Joachim won the Kundasang seat with a majority of 1,422 votes in a five-cornered contest, while Masidi won with a majority of 4,814 in a four-cornered fight and Abidin secured a 1,323-vote majority in an eight-cornered contest.
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