KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional regrets the action of its component party, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) fielding Datuk Ewon Ebin in Ranau.

Sabah Barisan secretary Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the decision by PBRS went against wishes of the coalition leadership.

“We never gave our blessing for PBRS to contest the seat. PBRS does not have Barisan’s letter of consent to contest in Ranau,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Nov 5).

In line with the coalition’s seat-sharing agreement with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), he said Sabah Barisan had ordered its party to work for the victory of GRS’ Ranau candidate Datuk Jonathan Yassin.

He said the PBRS secretary had informed Ewon through a letter dated Nov 4 that the party had cancelled the letter of consent to use the PBRS symbol.

Ewon had filed his nomination papers against Jonathan for the seat, where five candidates were contesting.

The other candidates are Taufik Dahlan (Pakatan Harapan), Azizul Julirin (Pejuang) and Markos Siton (Warisan).