KUALA LUMPUR: PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has to apologise for his Malaysia Day remarks before harbouring dreams of working together with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah after the 15th general election (GE15) said Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan.

The GRS deputy chairman said although Rafizi's idea of working with GRS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak to form the Federal government was "practical and a move in the right direction", it was nonetheless surprising.

This, he said, was because of what Rafizi said just a couple of months ago in his Malaysia Day message in which he claimed Sabah and Sarawak leaders abused their power to amass wealth.

"Does he still think Sabah's underdevelopment and poverty are caused by Sabah leaders' abuse of power and corruption? Does Rafizi believe in the disappointment and demands of the state leaders? Does he believe in the legitimate grouses of Sabah leaders? If he does, he must apologise first for his description of Sabah leaders," Kitingan told a news portal. 

He said Sabah leaders, especially those in GRS, were always willing to work with parties in Peninsular Malaysia as long as they were treated as equal partners and not subservient parties.

Previously, Rafizi said Pakatan Harapan could only work with GRS and GPS to form the next federal government should the need arise as cooperation with Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional or Gerakan Tanah Air was out of the question.

Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said any party wanting to form the government must work with GPS and GRS.

"Rafizi has shot himself in the foot because his statement could affect Pakatan Harapan's chances of forming the government. In fact, Rafizi will likely be blamed if GPS and GRS reject PH's approaches to form the government."

Awang Azman believed GPS and GRS were more comfortable working with BN.

This, he said, would be reminiscent of what happened after the Sheraton Move (which led to the collapse of the PH government) when GPS refused to work with PH to form a new government because it could not accept DAP.

Previously, Sarawak premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said GPS could not work with DAP after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was a former finance minister, claimed the state would go bankrupt within three years.