United Sabah Party

United Sabah Party Parti Bersatu Sabah
Malay name	Parti Bersatu Sabah
Abbreviation	PBS
President	Maximus Ongkili
Chairperson	Claudius Alex Sundang
Secretary-General	Julita Majungki
Deputy Presidents	Joachim Gunsalam (non-Muslim bumiputera) Yee Moh Chai (Chinese) Jahid Jahim (Muslim bumiputera)
Women Chief	Malianah Ugau
Youth Chief	Christopher Mandut
Vice-Presidents	Linda Tsen Daniel Isidore Stanislaus Kinsik Johnny Juani Mositun Hendrus Anding Ruslan Muharam Peter Mak Almudin Kaida Joseph Lee Han Khyun Mursid Mohd Rais
Treasurer-General	Lu Kim Yen
Founder	Joseph Pairin Kitingan
Founded	5 March 1985;40 years ago (1985-03-05)
Split from	Sabah People's United Front (BERJAYA)
Preceded by	United Sabah Movement [1]
Headquarters	Blok ‘M’, Lot 4, Tingkat 2 & 3, Donggongon New Township, Donggongon, 89507 Penampang (Peti Surat 13060, 88834 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah)
Youth wing	Youth Section
Women's wing	Women Section
Membership (2022)	580,000 [2]
Ideology	Sabah regionalism 20-point agreement Multiracialism Indigenous rights Social conservatism Kadazan-Dusun interests
Political position	Centre-right
National affiliation	Gagasan Rakyat (1991–1996) Barisan Nasional (1985–1990), (2002–2018)
Regional affiliation	United Alliance of Sabah (2018–2020) Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (since 2022)
Colours	Light blue and green
Slogan	"Bersatu!, Bersatu!, Bersatu!" "Sabah untuk Rakyat Sabah"
Anthem	Bersatu Dalam PBS
Dewan Negara:	0 / 70
Dewan Rakyat:	1 / 26 (Sabah and Labuan seats)
Sabah State Legislative Assembly:	7 / 79
Chief ministers in Malaysia	0 / 13
Election symbol
Party flag
Website
www.partibersatusabah.org
Politics of Malaysia Political parties Elections

The United Sabah Party (Malay : Parti Bersatu Sabah; abbrev: PBS) ^[3] , formerly the United Sabah Movement (Malay : Gerakan Sabah Bersatu) ^[4] , is a political party of Sabah. The PBS was founded by Joseph Pairin Kitingan in 1985 ^[5] and it is Sabah's oldest local party. ^[6] PBS is also the one of eight major component parties that formed the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), a Sabah-based official political coalition since 2022. ^{[7] [8]}

Since 2022, the PBS acts as an allied partner, providing confidence and supply to the ruling federal Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition as part of GRS. PBS is a major component of the Sabah-based Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state governing alliance since 2022.

History

PBS official logo since 1985 (logo above is being remastered in 2020)

PBS was registered as a political party on 5 March 1985. Its founding president Joseph Pairin Kitingan had broken away from the ruling Parti Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah (BERJAYA) because of his differences with the Chief Minister of Sabah and party president, Harris Salleh, whose state cabinet Pairin had served in. ^[9] BERJAYA itself had ousted the previous state government of United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) to govern Sabah for 8 years from 1976 to 1985. ^{[10] [11]}

PBS later formed the state government after winning the 1985 state elections. ^{[9] [10]} Following the 1986 Sabah riots, which occurred after PBS' victory in the 1986 state election, ^[11] PBS joined the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and governed Sabah from 1985 to 1994. ^{[10] [12]} However, on the eve of the 1990 state elections, PBS pulled out of BN to join the Gagasan Rakyat (GR) coalition and won the state election for a third time. ^{[10] [12] [13]} It also won the 1994 state elections by a narrow margin. The subsequent administration was short-lived as defectors switched their allegiance to BN, resulting in Pairin's resignation. ^{[10] [13]} PBS subsequently rejoined the BN coalition in 2002. ^{[14] [15]}

Following the fall of both federal and state BN governments in the 2018 general election (GE14), PBS left the coalition and formed a new Sabah-based informal coalition of parties known as the United Alliance or "Gabungan Bersatu". ^[16] During the 2020–21 Malaysian political crisis, PBS provided confidence and supply to Perikatan Nasional (PN) and prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin. ^[17] The party joined the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) or "Sabah People's Alliance" just before the 2020 Sabah state election ^[18] which was won eventually by GRS. ^[19]

Ideology and support base

Although it is mainly seen as an ethnically-based Kadazan-Dusun political party, PBS calls itself a "Malaysian multi-racial political party". ^{[20] [21]} Members are mostly of Kadazan-Dusun (from both the Dusunic plus Paitanic ethnolinguistic groups) and Murut (including the Lundayeh subgroup) ethnic descent, though the second and third largest ethnic membership are mostly Muslim Bumiputeras, mostly ethnic local Sabahan based ethnic Malays (Bruneian Malays and Cocos Malays), and also from the Bajau community of peoples (the second-largest ethnic Bumiputera in the state including the Iranun subgroup and some Suluk together with the Chinese, alongside those of mixed-race or Sino-Native subgroup of the Chinese minority). Its declared political mission is to strive to safeguard Sabah's autonomy and state rights, promoting democratic principles, economic advancement, human rights and a fair justice system. ^{[22] [23]} It also seeks preserving the traditional culture of each race in Sabah and freedom of religion in Malaysia. ^[24]

Among the most vocal issues voiced by the party were the issue of illegal immigrants along with 'ghost voters' in Sabah, the issue of the IC Project in East Malaysia, unbalanced development and the 20 points of the Malaysian Agreement 1963 for Sabah's entry into Malaysia. ^[15]

Since 1994 major defections from PBS, several political parties with similar ideologies have emerged. The closest one is the STAR Party, founded by Datuk Dr. Jeffrey G. Kitingan, the younger brother of the former president of PBS, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Other similar parties include Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.

List of leaders

List of PBS Presidents

1st: Joseph Pairin Kitingan, founding President (1985–2017) ^[25]

2nd: Maximus Ongkili, the second President (since 2017)

Leadership structure

Executive Council ^[26]

• President:
  • Maximus Ongkili
• Deputy Presidents:
  • Joachim Gunsalam (Non-Muslim bumiputera) ^[27]
  • Jahid Jahim (Muslim bumiputera)
  • Yee Moh Chai (Chinese)
• Vice Presidents:
  • Hendrus Anding
  • Johnny Mositun
  • Daniel Kinsik
  • Ruslan Muharam
  • Mursid Mohd Said
  • Arthur Sen Siong Choo
  • Linda Tsen Thau Lin
  • Peter Mak
• Women's Wing Chief:
  • Malianah Ugau
• Youth Wing Chief:
  • Christopher Mandut
• Secretary-General:
  • Julita Majungki
• Deputy Secretary-General:
  • Johnnybone J. Kurum
• Treasurer-General:
  • Lu Kim Yen
• Deputy Treasurer-General:
  • Lo Su Fui
• Information Chief:
  • Joniston Bangkuai
• Deputy Information Chief:
  • Bonaventure Boniface
• Supreme Council Members:
  • Peter Jino Allion
  • Samuil Mopun
  • Fredoline Totin Bangon
  • Stanis Buandi
  • Suman Yasambun
  • William Majimbun
  • Masum bin Takin
  • John Chryso Masabal
  • Bernard Joseph Dalinting
  • Muji bin Ampau
  • Hajjah Fazidah Mohd Yassin
  • Kasirin Bin Kamiran
  • Juin Saman
  • Azmi Haji Ahmad
  • Omar Hakim
  • Zamil Ismail
  • Johnny Goh
  • Kong Nyuk Thou
  • Lim Vun Chan
  • Fredian Gan
  • Ng Tze Tsai
  • Goon Thien Shang
  • Joseph Lee
• Divisional Chairpersons: ^[28]
  • N02 Bengkoka: Dr. Samuil Mopun
  • N03 Pitas: Awang Okik
  • N04 Tanjong Kapor: Martin Majamil
  • N05 Matunggong: Julita Mojungki
  • N06 Bandau: Maximus Ongkili
  • N07 Tandek: Hendrus Anding
  • N08 Pintasan: Muji Ampau
  • N09 Tempasuk: James Baga
  • N10 Usukan: Lamdin Kuyad
  • N11 Kadamaian: Demis Rumanti
  • N12 Sulaman: Juin Saman
  • N13 Pantai Dalit: Lizuan Sarabun
  • N14 Tamparuli: Jahid Jahim
  • N15 Kiulu: Joniston Bangkuai
  • N16 Karambunai: Johnny Goh
  • N18 Inanam: Fredoline Totin Bangon
  • N19 Likas: Joseph Lee Han Khyun
  • N20 Api-Api: Yee Moh Chai
  • N21 Luyang: Goon Thien Shang
  • N22 Tanjung Aru: Louis Lai Vui Leong
  • N23 Petagas: Azmi Hj. Ahmad
  • N24 Tanjung Keramat: Tahir Hj. Mohd Soon
  • N25 Kapayan: Augustin Anthony
  • N26 Moyog: John Chryso Masabal
  • N27 Limbahau: Johnny Juani Mositun
  • N30 Bongawan: Jitim Abak
  • N31 Membakut: Egol Onsim
  • N32 Klias: Hamin Gundim
  • N33 Kuala Penyu: Sebastian Dirih Anjim
  • N34 Lumadan: Ruslan Muharam
  • N35 Sindumin: Angian Alai
  • N36 Kundasang: Joachim Gunsalam
  • N37 Karanaan: Bernard Joseph Dalinting
  • N38 Paginatan: Arthur Sen
  • N39 Tambunan: Daniel Isidore Stanislaus Kinsik
  • N40 Bingkor: Peter Jino Allion
  • N41 Liawan: Zachary Robert Stanislaus Kinsik
  • N42 Melalap: Martin Johanis
  • N43 Kemabong: Raimun Tindil
  • N44 Tulid: Suman Yasambun
  • N45 Sook: Abraham Akimau
  • N46 Nabawan: Likin Simin
  • N47 Telupid: Johnnybone Kurum
  • N48 Sugut: Jamika Jeppy
  • N49 Labuk: Zamil Ismail
  • N50 Gum Gum: Matilda Sapot
  • N51 Sungai Manila: Sariah Duling
  • N52 Sungai Sibuga: Kasirin Kamiran
  • N54 Karamunting: Kong Nyuk Thau
  • N55 Elopura: Linda Tsen Thau Lin
  • N56 Tanjong Papat: Ong Chih Qun
  • N57 Kuamut: Masum Takin
  • N60 Tungku: Ayuh Pandasan
  • N62 Silam: Haji Mursid Mohd Rais
  • N63 Kunak: Hatta Mulok
  • N64 Sulabayan: Alibun Gimboh
  • N65 Senallang: Omar Hakim
  • N66 Bugaya: Hjh Fazidah Hj Mohd Yassin
  • N67 Balung: Zakaria Hj Guntik
  • N68 Apas: Chong Soo Yin @ Mohd Irwan Chong Abdullah
  • N69 Sri Tanjung: Lo Su Fui
  • N71 Tanjong Batu: Samson Gapid
  • N72 Merotai: A Hasin Nawa
  • N73 Sebatik: Sahrol Mahoolop
  • P166 Labuan: Peter Mak Chun Vun

Elected representatives

Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)

Members of Parliament of the 15th Malaysian Parliament

Main article: Members of the Dewan Rakyat, 15th Malaysian Parliament

PBS has currently only 1 MP in the House of Representatives.

State	No.	Parliament Constituency	Member	Party
Sabah	P190	Tawau	Lo Su Fui		PBS
Total	Sabah (1)

Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly)

Malaysian State Assembly Representatives

Main article: List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2022–present)

Sabah State Legislative Assembly

7 / 79

State	No.	Parliamentary Constituency	No.	State Assembly Constituency	Member	Party
Sabah	P168	Kota Marudu	N05	Matunggong	Julita Majungki		PBS
			N07	Tandek	Hendrus Anding		PBS
	P170	Tuaran	N15	Kiulu	Joniston Lumai @ Bangkuai		PBS
	P175	Papar	N27	Limbahau	Juil Nuatim		PBS
	P178	Sipitang	N34	Lumadan	Ruslan Muharam		PBS
	P179	Ranau	N36	Kundasang	Joachim Gunsalam		PBS
	P183	Beluran	N47	Telupid	Jonnybone J Kurum		PBS
Total	Sabah (6)

Government offices

Ministerial posts

Portfolio	Office Bearer	Constituency
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories)	Lo Su Fui	Tawau

State governments

PBS currently serves as junior partner in GRS government

• Sabah (1985–1994,2004–2018, 2020–present)

Note: bold as Menteri Besar/Chief Minister, italic as junior partner

State	Leader type	Member	State Constituency
Sabah	Deputy Chief Minister I	Joachim Gunsalam	Kundasang

Election results

Election year	Malaysia Parliament		Sabah State Assembly		Outcome
	Candidates	Seats won	Candidates	Seats won
1985	-	-	45	25 / 48	25 seats; Sabah state governing coalition (with PASOK)
1986	-	-	47	34 / 48	9 seats; Sabah state government Snap election
1986	14	10 / 177	-	-	10 seats; Federal governing coalition (Barisan Nasional)
1990	-	-	48	36 / 48	2 seats; Sabah state government (Barisan Nasional, contested under PBS ticket)
1990	14	14 / 180	-	-	4 seats; Federal opposition coalition (left BN before polling day to join Gagasan Rakyat)
1994	-	-	48	25 / 48	11 seats; Sabah state government
1995	28	8 / 192	-	-	6 seats; Federal opposition
1999	-	-	48	17 / 48	6 seats; Sabah state opposition
1999	17	3 / 193	-	-	5 seats; Federal opposition
2004	4	4 / 219	13	13 / 60	1 seat; Federal governing coalition (Barisan Nasional) 4 seats; Sabah state governing coalition (BN Sabah)
2008	4	3 / 222	13	12 / 60	1 seat; Federal governing coalition (Barisan Nasional) 1 seat; Sabah state governing coalition (BN Sabah)
2013	5	4 / 222	13	7 / 60	1 seat; Federal governing coalition (Barisan Nasional) 5 seats; Sabah state governing coalition (BN Sabah)
2018	5	1 / 222	13	6 / 60	3 seat; Federal opposition coalition (United Alliance) 1 seat; Sabah state opposition coalition (United Alliance)
2020	-	-	22	7 / 73	1 seat; Sabah state governing coalition (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, with PN and BN) Snap election
2022	4	1 / 222	-	-	; Federal governing coalition (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah)
2025	-	-	11	7 / 73	; Sabah state governing coalition (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah)

State election results

State election	State Legislative Assembly
	Perlis	Kedah	Kelantan	Terengganu	Penang	Perak	Pahang	Selangor	Negeri Sembilan	Malacca	Johor	Sabah	Sarawak	Total won / Total contested
2/3 majority	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 3
1995		0 / 36			0 / 33						0 / 40			0 / 9
2016													0 / 80	0 / 30
2018												7 / 79		6 / 27
2020												7 / 73		7 / 24
2025												7 / 73		7 / 11

See also

• Joseph Pairin Kitingan (Former 1st PBS President)
• Maximus Ongkili (2nd PBS President)

References

1. Kepemimpinan PBS seluruh Sabah. "History of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)". Parti Bersatu Sabah Website.
2. "580,000 Membership of United Sabah Party (PBS) since 2022, two years after won in Sabah Election 2020". Parti Bersatu Sabah.
3. "Nama penuh bagi singkatan PBS ialah "Parti Bersatu Sabah" (telah direkod di dalam Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka)". Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
4. Kepemimpinan PBS seluruh Sabah. "History of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)". Parti Bersatu Sabah Website.
5. Kepemimpinan PBS seluruh Sabah. "History of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)". Parti Bersatu Sabah Website.
6. "Demi rakyat, legasi PBS diteruskan di Kuala Penyu". Utusan Borneo Online. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021. PBS adalah parti tempatan tertua di Sabah dan masih aktif
7. Bernama (11 March 2022). "RoS approves registration of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, says Hajiji". malaymail. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
8. "PRU15: PBS guna logo GRS". Warta Oriental. 14 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
9. Mohd Hamdan Haji Adnan (2013). "Malaysia's 13th General Election in Sabah: Factors Determining the Winners" (PDF). Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysian Journal of History, Politics & Strategic Studies. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. pp. 96–97 [4–5/20]. ISSN   2180-0251. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
10. "The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in Sabah, East Malaysia: An Overview 1990-1994 International" (PDF). Hamdan Aziz (Ph.D) & Syahrin Said, Department of Nationhood and Civilization Studies, Centre for Fundamental and Liberal Education, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Vol. 7, No. 12. 2017. ISSN   2222-6990 . Retrieved 25 September 2021– via HR Mars.
11. Gan Pei Ling (14 September 2012). "The hushed riot of Sabah". Selangor Times. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
12. G. Lim. "Sabah: All Quiet On The Eastern Front?". Aliran Monthly. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
13. Herman Luping (10 April 2011). "Understanding the pullout decision". Daily Express . Retrieved 25 September 2021.
14. "Pairin glad PBS is back in coalition" (PDF). New Straits Times. 24 January 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2021– via Perdana Leadership Foundation Library.
15. Avila Geraldine (5 August 2020). "Is PBS capable of returning to its days of glory?". New Straits Times . Retrieved 25 September 2021.
16. Kristy Inus (12 May 2018). "Sabah BN coalition to be disbanded to pave way for Gabungan Bersatu". New Straits Times . Retrieved 13 May 2018.
17. "BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR support formation of PN". The Sun Daily . 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
18. "Malaysian PM Muhyiddin forms Gabungan Rakyat Sabah alliance to take on Sabah polls". The Straits Times . 12 September 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
19. Yusof, Amir (27 September 2020). "Muhyiddin-led Gabungan Rakyat Sabah clinches simple majority in state polls". Channel News Asia . Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
20. "Resurgence of interest in multi-racial PBS". The Borneo Post. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
21. Jason Santos (24 February 2018). "Multi-racial party not new in Sabah". The Malaysian Insight. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
22. "PBS to strengthen multiracial identity". The Borneo Post. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
23. "Demi rakyat, legasi PBS diteruskan di Kuala Penyu". Utusan Borneo Online. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021. PBS adalah sebuah Perpaduan dan Perpaduan terbesar berlaku di Sabah bersama PBS
24. "Don't Neglect PBS Members, Ongkili Tells BN Reps In Karanaan, Paginatan". Borneo Today. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
25. "Pairin Moves Aside After 31 Years Ongkili Is Acting President Of PBS". The Borneo Post. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
26. "Ahli Majlis Tertinggi". Parti Bersatu Sabah.
27. "Joachim wins PBS deputy president post by a whisker". The Star. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
28. "Parti Bersatu Sabah | Ketua Bahagian PBS". Parti Bersatu Sabah.

Notes

• James Chin. (1994) "Sabah State Election of 1994: End of Kadazan Unity, Asian Survey, Vol. 34, No. 10, pp. 904–915.

External links

• Official website