The former chief minister said the party’s “handshake” symbol still resonates with Sabahans despite the fact it was last used in 2004, almost two decades ago.
“I think a lot of people still love PBS. We will be able to attract more positive response from the people,” he told reporters in Penampang, near here, today.
“This is because PBS has been fighting for Sabah all the way, without sparing any effort, and we are still strong.
“That is why it is better to use our own symbol so people can choose (us). They know what PBS stands for and they know the party has struggled for the people, state, country and religion.”
PBS, which quit the Barisan Nasional coalition after the May 2018 election, had earlier this month signalled its intention to contest 30 seats in the snap polls and use its own symbol after 16 years.
The party had won six out of the 13 seats it contested under the BN ticket in the 14th general election (GE14).
PBS is among the local opposition parties aligned with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.
Pairin, who retired as PBS president in 2018, hoped the party can retake the Tambunan state seat, which he lost to his younger brother Jeffrey Kitingan in GE14.
The veteran leader, who founded PBS in 1985, had held the seat since 1976 until his loss in a four-way battle to Jeffrey, who heads Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
“I would like PBS to win back the seat but I’m not the PBS president anymore, so it is up to the leadership (to contest the seat),” he said.
Asked his thoughts on what Jeffrey’s political direction should be, he said, in jest: “You know him … he’s not always in support of me anyway.
“It is up to him. But I heard his party has been aligned with PN but in any case, even that is not so clear.
“But it looks like there will be a lot of participation from different political parties and each wants to win to form the next government – even Liberal Democratic Party and Parti Cinta Sabah want to become the ‘third force’.”
Asked whether he was considering coming out of retirement, the 80-year-old said he was enjoying his time away from politics and would stay retired.
“I am not going to be like some other people, like a certain 95-year-old who still wants to lead,” he said, in an apparent jab at former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“When you have decided to hand over the baton to younger people, it is a political continuance and it has to be like that – I want to see young people taking part in leadership in Sabah.”