KOTA KINABALU: The chairman of Sabah Barisan Nasional, Bung Moktar Radin, believes the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition could also do with its own presidential council.
He said such a council would come in handy to discuss “sensitive” issues.
“If it brings benefits and will strengthen us, then why not? “I think there is a need for a presidential council so the chiefs can talk among each other on a deeper level of things that aren’t suitable to speak in a big group,” he told FMT.
However, Bung, who is Lamag assemblyman and deputy chief minister, said the matter has yet to be floated in the GRS coalition.
Asked if all GRS party leaders should be part of the council, he said: “We’ll think about that if we do decide to establish the council.”
Yesterday, PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin proposed a presidential council for leaders of parties which are part of the Perikatan Nasional-led federal government.
“This is important because not all party leaders are in the Cabinet,” he said, adding that through the meetings, party leaders could give their views for the Cabinet to take into consideration when making a decision.
The Sabah ruling coalition comprises PN, BN and PBS. Within Sabah PN there is Sabah PPBM, STAR and SAPP while in BN there is Umno, MCA and PBRS.
Analysts have previously suggested that GRS was a ticking-time bomb, predicting a tough road ahead for the coalition in keeping the outfit together after its slim victory over Warisan Plus in the Sabah elections.
The analysts said potential infighting, party rivalry and strong personalities within the loose coalition were potential triggers for a collapse.