David Ong
KOTA KINABALU (June 11): The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has maintained that the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) logo should remain the exclusive symbol of Sabah-based political parties and not be used by members of other coalitions.
LDP vice president David Ong said any proposal for candidates from Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties to contest under the GRS logo while retaining their PH membership would go against the coalition’s founding principles.
“The GRS logo is more than just an election symbol. It represents the aspirations of Sabahans to have a stronger voice in determining Sabah’s future and safeguarding Sabah’s rights under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said in a statement.
Ong said GRS was established as a coalition of Sabah-based parties to ensure the state’s interests are championed by leaders and parties rooted in locally.
He argued that individuals wishing to contest under the GRS banner should first become members of a Sabah-based component party within the coalition.
“It would be inconsistent with the spirit and identity of GRS for individuals who remain members of Peninsular-based political parties to seek election under the GRS banner.
“If any PH candidate wishes to contest under the GRS logo, the proper and principled course of action would be to first leave their respective PH party and join a Sabah-based component party within GRS,” he stressed.
Ong pointed out the authority to decide who contests under the GRS logo rests solely with GRS and its component parties.
“The GRS logo belongs to GRS. No individual or external political party should assume entitlement to the GRS logo simply because it may be politically advantageous,” he said.
He warned that allowing members of other political coalitions to use the GRS logo while retaining their existing affiliations could dilute the coalition’s identity and confuse voters.
“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.
“Should there be any proposal to allow members of PH component parties to contest under the GRS logo while retaining their membership in PH, LDP will be among the first to object.”
