Sabah PKR deputy chief Raymond Ahuar said the party’s priority was to continue discussions with parties that currently form the Sabah government although it remained open to talks with others as well.

“We leave it to our leadership, especially the prime minister who is also the PKR president, to determine the best partners for us in the state election,” he told FMT.

He was commenting on Warisan president Shafie Apdal’s announcement last Saturday that his party would contest the upcoming election in Sabah solo, dismissing speculation about electoral pacts with other parties.

Shafie’s announcement followed the decision by Sabah Barisan Nasional to uphold its alliance with its Pakatan Harapan counterparts in the coming state assembly elections.

Raymond acknowledged Warisan’s right to contest on its own, but said this would narrow its chances of winning, given Sabah’s diverse electorate across ethnic and religious lines.

“What matters most is ensuring that the government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership remains stable in Putrajaya.

“In politics, what is said today may change tomorrow, and Sabah’s political landscape is unpredictable. Circumstances may change at the last minute – today we may seem at odds, but tomorrow we could be working together.”

The current Sabah government has until October before the state assembly must be dissolved to make way for fresh elections.