The former Sabah chief minister said there was an assumption that only local parties were entitled to speak on Sabah’s rights.

“In truth, this struggle belongs to all Sabahans,” he said, noting that Sabah-based parties such as Upko and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) had opted to work within national coalitions to ensure that Sabah’s voice is better heard at the federal level.

Salleh said this when officiating a Lahad Datu Umno meeting.

He also said that political parties were merely platforms, irrespective of whether they were local or national.

He said the more important matter was the sincerity and capability of leaders in bringing the issues affecting Sabahans to “a higher level”.

“What the people of Sabah want today is not about who is more ‘Sabahan’ or more ‘local’. What truly matters is who is sincere, stable, and capable of fulfilling their promises,” he said.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Hajiji Noor said last Friday that the coalition would go solo in the state election if Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) had finalised their electoral pact.

He said local Sabah parties should form the backbone of the state government and lead it.

PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim however said he was optimistic that the three coalitions would be able to reach an agreement for the state election.

Salleh said last Friday that BN and PH’s pact for the Sabah election was a step towards ensuring political stability in the Bornean state, which he described as crucial.