Kuala lumpur: Political parties in the country need to move away from political narratives that compete to exploit racial and religious sentiments, and instead compete through policies, performance and their ability to provide a better quality of life for the people. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah state leadership council chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud emphasized the importance of this transition. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mustapha, who is also the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak), highlighted that politics which frightens one race with another or uses religion as a dividing line only serves to split the people. He reiterated the need to shift from identity politics to performance-based politics, with a focus on the economy, welfare, and the people's well-being. This was also a key theme at the 2026 PKR National Congress. Mustapha shared on Facebook that in Sabah, racial, religious, and cultural diversity is a strength. He stated that the pressing question for the p eople today is not about one's race or religion but rather about who can effectively solve their problems and meet their needs. He noted that the people of Sabah are becoming more mature and should not be drawn into racial politics and narrow identity politics still propagated by certain groups. Based on this principle, Mustapha expressed that Sabah PKR is advocating for the 'Needs-Based Economy' approach to be bolstered. He underscored that government policies and assistance should be determined based on the people's actual needs, development gaps, income levels, and the geographical realities of a particular region, rather than solely on race or a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. For Sabah, Mustapha pointed out that this principle is crucial in areas such as fuel subsidies, education, healthcare, water, electricity, roads, the Internet, and rural development. Those who are most in need must receive the appropriate attention and assistance, regardless of race or religion. He also urged the Federal Government to review the diesel and petrol quotas to meet the needs of the people of Borneo. Moreover, Mustapha cited the increase in the Sabah Special Grant from RM600 million to RM1.5 billion under the MADANI Government administration as an example of addressing development needs and imbalances through policy. He also stressed that resolving Sabah's right to 40 per cent of the net revenue derived by the Federal Government from Sabah should remain a priority, aligning with the Federal Constitution and the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).