The decision by Parti Bersatu Sabah's (PBS) Joseph Pairin Kitingan to apologise to Barisan Nasional chairperson and Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad for pulling out of the coalition 11 years ago cannot but be lauded by all members of the civil society.

The desire by PBS to return into the BN fold to contribute towards national development, unity and the country's vision for 2020 should be welcomed by all components parties in the Barisan Nasional.

It is true that only the Barisan Nasional supreme council can approve an application from a political party to join the ruling coalition.

We are told that any application will be referred to the said council for deliberation and consideration and that a consensus from all was needed for admission.

Except for the Sabah Progressive Party's (SPP) 'initial' apparent silence, all other Sabah-based parties seem to welcome PBS's decision to rejoin the BN.

What was really uplifting was the supportive comments from Liberal Democratic Party president and Sabah Chief Minister Chong Kah Kiat, former political opponents like United , United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Organisation's president Bernard Dompok, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah's Joseph Kurup and Gerakan.

This is not the time for any quarter to behave like political warlords and gatekeepers to prevent any quarter who in sincerity, repentance and honesty, desires to embrace the "workings and philosophy" of the BN which has resulted in the country's development and upliftment of the standard of living for the last 44 years.

In fact, there were sad cases in the past where certain parties' applications and attempts to join the Barisan Nasional were 'blocked', which put the BN in rather bad light.

Despite their applications' rejection, I am personally aware from discussions with several heads of state, that these parties have continued to provide strong vocal, logistics and manpower support to the BN government in all its elections, by-elections and follow-up community programmes!

Perhaps, it is time our beloved premier and BN chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad be given 'special powers' to make decisions on such applications to join the BN rather than allow the present 'consensus' which has been a hurdle for some parties working earnestly for the BN at grassroots level.

The premier's fairness, undisputable leadership qualities, political pragmatism and track record of looking at the long-term implications and contributions will serve us well in this matter.

For the record, the move by PBS also consolidates the strong and widespread belief that only the BN government can deliver growth, unity and development in multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia.

With the re-entry of PBS, issues related to the greater unity and good of the Kadazandusun and Murut communities can be easily identified and resolved in the BN spirit.

While it is fashionable to hold widely publicised conferences, to self-righteously preach to the world on issues related to alienation, poverty, religious persecution, the marginalisation of minorities, oppression in its various forms and heads - we must not forget, that we in Malaysia, are also closely watched and judged by the standards we uphold in local politics, community life and society.

This is why, the acceptance of PBS into the BN fold after an absence of over 11 years is pertinent to clearly illustrate that the BN government always fulfills election promises, contributes to national unity and development and are also, forgiving, when 'true repentance' presents itself.

Perhaps, this could be the message for the country and the world, during this sacred and religious period of Ramadan.