KOTA KINABALU, April 18 -- "Do not disappoint us again," said Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan in a pointed message as he ended his speech during the ceremony to officially sign a pact between two of the largest native parties in Sabah.

Pairin's own Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), helmed by his younger brother Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, signed a locally-significant pact to work together after a long "friendly" rivalry.

The paramount leader of the Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus community - among the many "non-Muslim" native ethnicities of Sabah - said it was time that the community was united again under cohesive leadership.

"I've been harping on about this for some time, but now we are here, shows that not ...