Tulid PBRS chief Matusin Bowie said the party should be given a chance to contest on a Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket, adding that he had conveyed this appeal to party president Arthur Joseph Kurup.

“Tulid PBRS currently has more than 8,000 registered members, backed by a well-organised, active, and prepared party machinery at every polling district level.

“PBRS has served the people of Tulid since before the constituency was established, when it was still part of the Sook area, and has remained consistent in fighting for the people to this day,” he said, according to Daily Express.

Matusin suggested that PKR field its candidate, Rufinah Pengeran, in Moyog instead, saying it was better suited to her political background.

“The reality is that Rufinah is not known by the local community in Tulid. The people of Tulid want a true local leader who understands their culture, needs, and heartbeat — not an outsider who only appears during election season.”

He added that Pakatan Harapan (PH) had constantly been rejected by voters in Tulid as it lacked grassroots support there.

The Tulid seat, which falls under Kurup’s parliamentary constituency of Pensiangan, was first contested in the 2020 state election.

Flovia Ng, then of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), won the race with a 544-vote majority at the time, ahead of Matusin.

PH has not named a candidate for Moyog as it was initially allocated to Upko prior to its departure from the coalition. However, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has named a candidate in Moyog.

PH has separate election pacts with GRS and BN for the state polls.