KOTA KINABALU: Pejuang is looking forward to working with governing political parties in Sabah.
Its president, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, said that there had been unofficial discussions with a few "small" active political parties about cooperation.
"As for those 'big' parties, we have yet to meet each other. It's not that we don't know each other; we've known each other for a long time. It's just that there is no official collaboration yet.
"We actually have quite close relationships with many of the top leadership of the parties that are active in Sabah, most particularly Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. After I left Umno, then (Parti Pribumi) Bersatu (Malaysia), Bersatu Sabah is now GRS, and its members are the same people actually. We are old friends that fought and won together; we went through many challenges together.
"It is quite natural for us to try to talk to them again, but it is up to them to consider whether we have any value. We think we have some, even a small sense; perhaps we have something that we can contribute," he told the media after the state party's Raya Aidilfitri celebration at a hotel here.
Pejuang, which was founded by Mukhriz's father Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2020, lost all 68 seats that it contested in the general election in 2022.
Mukhriz, who served as Kedah Menteri Besar twice, also mentioned that the party is taking its time to rebuild its strength and has learned the lesson of standing alone in past elections.
Describing that they did "measure the cloth on their own body" (a Malay proverb 'Ukur baju di badan sendiri') of their situation, he assures that the party would not make demands to field their candidates at specific constituencies in the upcoming Sabah elections.
"Given those background conditions, I believe people are more willing to accept us because they know we are not coming to make any demands.
"Hopefully, that way, under political parties, they don't look at us as a threat but a party that can provide some value towards the wellbeing of the people," he said.
When asked whether their potential collaboration with GRS would mean the end of Pejuang's cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN), Mukhriz said both are different ball games.
Pejuang had previously requested to become part of the PN coalition but was rejected by its chief.
GRS' previous component Bersatu Sabah lawmakers had quit the party and PN to form Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, which is led by state Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said Sabah politics is very dynamic and is rather autonomous.
"I cannot bring peninsular Malaysia politics into Sabah because the situation is very different. In peninsular Malaysia, we are very open to PN.
"Whether directly or indirectly, we will participate in the PN campaign for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election starting from tonight.
"But that does not mean in Sabah (we are not supporting GRS), it is a different ball game altogether. The formula is not the same as in peninsular Malaysia."