Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan said Gabungan Bersatu, a loose coalition of Sabah parties, planned to meet with the Sarawak parties after Hari Raya.
In praising their move, he said the plan to form a Borneo Bloc could now proceed.
He said it was much easier to discuss the matter with them now because they no longer had to check with their BN counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia on such a matter.
“We will be going to Sarawak soon (as) we want to work with them… This will be after Hari Raya,” said the Tambunan state assemblyman.
“I believe they will talk to us despite the pending court decision on who the legitimate Sabah chief minister is and who has the right to form the government.”
He said the entourage to Sarawak would comprise STAR, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and some state Umno members.
Gabungan Bersatu, spearheaded by PBS, is an unofficial alliance put together after the May 9 general election.
It also consists of Umno members invited to join by PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan after PBS quit BN.
Earlier today, Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg had announced that Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP) had unanimously decided to quit BN.
Abang Johari, who is PBB president, said the parties had also agreed to form a pact called Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
Meanwhile, PBS deputy president Maximus Ongkili congratulated Abang Johari on the parties exit from BN.
“We wish them the very best for the new endeavour and support fully their stand to safeguard the state’s rights as contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and pursue power devolution commitments made by the then prime minister Najib Razak,” the Kota Marudu MP said.
“PBS has already commenced communication with Gabungan Parti Sarawak leaders to establish a common front and platform in Parliament on these issues.”
He added a discussion will also be held to establish a strategic link between PBS and Gabungan Bersatu Sarawak.
Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Darell Leiking said Sabah and Sarawak needed to form a strong bloc to represent Borneo in co-administering Malaysia.
The Penampang MP said the ultimate goal was to ensure the terms of MA63 are fully observed.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee said Peninsular Malaysia leaders could do nothing to stem the trend among Sabah and Sarawak parties to reassert the states’ rights.
He added that Pakatan Harapan (PH) had promised “equal status” for Sabah and Sarawak with Malaya.
Sabah Umno assistant secretary Masidi Manjun said the Sarawak parties’ decision was not surprising and even expected.
“BN suffered heavy losses during the recent GE14 . With a state election in two years’ time and a PH central government, a continuous tie-up with BN may not be politically tenable for them,” he said.
“A political realignment is a sensible and practical option – perhaps the only option for them,” said the Karanaan assemblyman.