KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has to contest in all 73 state seats in Sabah, said United Sabah Nasional Organisation (USNO) president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
During the launching of Zone 2 Jelajah Wanita GRS here, the former Dewan Rakyat speaker said he supported GRS deputy chairman Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan's speech on contesting all seats in the upcoming election.
"I supported it as it is in line with GRS tagline "Our home, we look after", as stated by the Sabah Chief Minister; it has 1,001 connotations, and because Sabah is our state, we need to be in power.
"How are we in power in accordance with the GRS struggle, which is the fight for the state and people? All seats should be contested by candidates from local parties," he told reporters at an event held at Kian Kok Middle School here.
GRS is a coalition formed by Gagasan Rakyat, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, USNO, Liberal Democratic Party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Sabah Progressive Party.
As for the cooperations with leaders from peninsular Malaysia, Pandikar Amin said it would be a secondary matter.
He added if leaders in the past could build a nation together for more than 60 years, the existing and future leaders of better socioeconomic backgrounds would have no problems cooperating.
Present were Jeffrey and GRS women chief Datuk Azizah Dun.
Earlier, Jeffrey also said that GRS women have to enhance their knowledge on matters related to Malaysia Agreement 1963 including the Federal Constitution, 20-point agreement, Inter-Governmental Committee and current status to empower the grassroot community.
He also added that there was a need to increase the number of women's participation in politics.
"Nationally, women's participation in politics is less than 15 per cent, we have a long way to go.
"I hope in Sabah, we start fulfilling that objective. Women are as good as or even better than men."