KOTA KINABALU, June 19 -- Sabah DAP MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin has cautioned against the rising political rhetoric that divides parties into "local" and "national" blocs, calling it a "false dichotomy" that oversimplifies Sabah's political dynamics as the 17th state election (PRN17) approaches.

Chan noted that localism has always been a key element of Sabah's political identity, but one that has coexisted with national coalitions over time.

"It's not fair to divide parties as either 'local' or 'national.' Leaders from so-called national parties are Sabahans too. They've been here, working on local issues and championing rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)," he said.

His comments come as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) mulls its el...