Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had made the suggestion in a speech during his visit to Kota Marudu yesterday, where Matunggong is located.
“This suggestion is indeed unacceptable to PBS because Matunggong has always been a PBS seat,” Ongkili said in a Facebook post after the event.
“This matter will be discussed in the PBS Supreme Council meeting but whatever the outcome of our discussion, we hope PBS and its Supreme Council members’ stand will be respected.”
Ongkili said Zahid’s suggestion went against the decision by the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership, which had agreed that every component party would defend their respective seats as there would be no additional seats.
“As such, the quota given to PBS should remain and any suggestion of change should be discussed fair and square by the Malaysia and Sabah BN chairmen.
“A mutual agreement is needed to safeguard the BN seat quota and effort and cooperation definitely must exist to ensure victory for the chosen candidates,” Ongkili said.
Zahid had asked PBS to lend the Matunggong seat to Umno so that BN could wrest back the seat, which was won by Jelani Hamdan under a PKR ticket in the last general election. Jelani subsequently left PKR and is now seen as BN-friendly although he has yet to join any party.
The deputy prime minister also said the ruling coalition was hoping to retain Kota Marudu with a bigger majority, adding that Jelani would help BN secure victory in Matunggong.
Tandek, which is held by PBS’ Anita Baranting, is another state seat within the Kota Marudu parliamentary constituency.
Ongkili previously said that PBS would not surrender any of the seats traditionally allocated to it.
The party received a blow in the last election after losing six state seats: Matunggong, Kadamaian, Tamparuli, Inanam, Api-Api and Sri Tanjong.
However, the incumbent for Kadamaian, Jeremy Malajad, has also left PKR.
Malajad joined Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), another Sabah BN component party.
The other state seats previously allocated to PBS are Tanjong Aru, Kiulu, Kundasang, Tambunan, Melalap and Labuk.
Ongkili is the five-term MP for the Kota Marudu constituency. The other parliamentary seats are Keningau, Batu Sapi, Tawau and Kota Kinabalu. PBS lost the Kota Kinabalu seat in the two previous elections.
Independent Jelani Hamdan to decide which Sabah party to join