GRS rubbishes talk of Star exit, says all components united
Published on: Thu, Jul 03, 2025
By: Nicholas Chung, FMT Text Size: GRS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said the leaders of all eight coalition components, including STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan, reiterated their commitment to GRS in a meeting on Monday. PETALING JAYA: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has rubbished rumours that key component Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) is planning to quit the ruling state coalition. Acknowledging a viral video of Star president Jeffrey Kitingan saying that his party would leave the coalition, GRS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said the leaders of all eight GRS components, including Kitingan, had met coalition chairman Hajiji Noor on Monday. At the meeting, the party chiefs affirmed their commitment to GRS and to ensuring that the coalition scores a major victory in the upcoming state election, Joniston said. 'They're all united. They were unanimous in that they must not only remain together but further strengthen GRS. That was the commitment they gave during the meeting with the GRS chairman,' he told FMT. GRS comprises eight parties, including Hajiji's Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Star. Gagasan Rakyat has 26 seats in the Sabah legislative assembly while PBS and Star have seven and six seats, respectively. PBS and Star signed a pact last year to ensure that the two Kadazandusun Murut-based parties would not clash in the state polls, saying this was aimed at further strengthening GRS. In the recent video, Kitingan, a Sabah deputy chief minister, could be heard saying, 'We will leave GRS but remain in the government.' Malaysiakini quoted Star deputy information chief Ardino Diris as saying the clip was taken out of context and that other parts of Kitingan's remarks – particularly about seat allocations – had been removed. Even if Star were to leave GRS, Joniston said PBS would stick with the ruling state coalition, which it helped establish in 2022. 'This is about principles. We helped form GRS, so how can we break away from a coalition that we helped form?' said the PBS information chief. In any case, the state assistant minister said PBS and Star's working relationship was 'as strong as ever', and that the ultimate goal of this was to bolster GRS's position in Sabah. He added that a PBS-Star convention would be held on July 12 with more than 5,000 grassroots leaders from both parties expected to attend. 'We will re-emphasise our commitment to ensuring a huge victory for GRS in the state polls. At the same time, it will be a platform for our grassroots leaders to express what they would like to see. 'Because it must always be guided by the feelings and sentiments of the grassroots on the ground,' he said. Joniston added that PBS, Star, as well as GRS must be guided by what Sabahans want, which he believed was for local Sabah-based parties to dominate the state's political arena. 'That is what the majority of Sabahans want, based on the feedback we've received, the comments on social media, and our interaction with voters and people on the ground. 'And GRS has done well. Our relationship with the federal government is excellent though the Sabah government is dominated by local parties. Things are moving as expected,' said the three-term Kiulu assemblyman. GRS is said to be in talks with Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional on a pact for the state polls. - FMT * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
8 hours ago
- Borneo Post
PH Sabah to present joint manifesto ahead of state election
Mustapha speaking to reporters after handing over an IPT offer letter in Kampung Warisan. KOTA KINABALU (July 5): Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties in Sabah will be releasing a joint manifesto ahead of the upcoming state election, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah chief Datuk Ts Mustapha Sakmud. He said PKR is currently drafting its manifesto, which will be unveiled alongside those of the other three Sabah PH components — United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko), National Trust Party (Amanah) and Democratic Action Party (DAP). 'The manifesto will highlight issues close to the hearts of Sabahans, particularly the state's 40 percent revenue entitlement under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),' said Mustapha. He added that PKR will also propose a guideline formula to ensure fair distribution of key positions, such as village heads and appointments in government-linked companies (GLCs), based on each party's strength within the coalition. 'This is to prevent dissatisfaction and to ensure equitable representation,' he told reporters after presenting an institute for higher education offer letter to a student at Kampung Warisan on Saturday. He added that the proposed appointment system would be included in the joint manifesto. On a separate note, Mustapha expressed confidence in the continued strong support for PKR president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, especially in Sabah, where Anwar enjoys a high approval rating. Addressing recent internal criticisms, particularly regarding the appointment of Nurul Izzah Anwar as PKR deputy president, Mustapha acknowledged the dissatisfaction voiced by some quarters. 'Some may not be happy with the party elections, but as a leader, I believe our members are beginning to understand that the focus should be on the party's direction and unity— not individuals,' he said.
Borneo Post
9 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Armizan: CCUS Act shows why Sabah needs strong local party leadership
Armizan with delegates of the PGRS Melalap division during the annual conference. TENOM (July 5): The enactment of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Act 2025, which applies only to Peninsular Malaysia, underscores the importance of having a strong local party as the backbone of the Sabah State Government, said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy secretary Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. Speaking at the official opening of the PGRS Melalap division's annual conference here on Saturday, Armizan reminded delegates that safeguarding Sabah's rights requires a careful balance between national and local political forces. 'It is crucial to ensure that local parties form the core of the State Government. This guarantees that Federal-State relations are inter-governmental in nature — not merely intra-party,' he said. Citing the recent passage of the CCUS Act 2025, Armizan said the law initially sought nationwide implementation. 'But the Federal Cabinet later agreed to limit its application to only Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan after hearing the views of the Sabah Government led by GRS, and the Sarawak Government led by GPS,' he explained. He attributed the decision to a Federal leadership that respects Sabah and Sarawak's special positions under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and that is open to constructive engagement with the two State Governments. 'This is the benefit of having a different core at each level of government. The Federal Government is led by a national coalition, while the State Government is anchored by local parties. This setup ensures state interests are debated government-to-government—not lost in internal party politics,' he said. Armizan contrasted this with the Territorial Sea Act (TSA) 2012, which restricts Sabah's territorial waters to just three nautical miles. 'Today, some leaders are vocal in opposing the TSA 2012. But where were they then? Some were Members of Parliament and even Federal ministers when the Bill was passed in 2012,' he said in a Facebook post. He pointed out that the Sabah Government under GRS has consistently maintained that the TSA 2012 does not apply to Sabah, as it was never tabled or passed in the State Legislative Assembly. 'This is the historical record of certain parties and leaders. They cannot erase it. They must explain why they only now choose to speak up,' he added. Armizan said two key factors explain the difference in outcomes between the TSA 2012 and the CCUS Act 2025: 1. In 2012, both the Federal and State Governments were dominated by the same national party. 2. In 2025, Sabah's State Government is led by a local party, while the Federal Government remains nationally focused. He also noted that nearly every Sabah MP in 2012 was part of a national coalition and bound by its decisions, including how to vote in Parliament. Armizan clarified that Sabah does not reject national parties entirely, pointing out that the current State Government still includes representatives from Pakatan Harapan (PH). 'But what matters is that the core must remain local to keep Sabah's interests at the forefront. Only then can issues affecting the State be resolved through true government-to-government engagement, not just internal party discussions,' he said.
Daily Express
10 hours ago
- Daily Express
MCCC warns against politicising court cases
Published on: Saturday, July 05, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 05, 2025 By: Noor Zafira Zayn Text Size: KOTA kINABALU: The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah has warned that politicising court cases risks undermining investor confidence and damaging Sabah's economic reputation. Its Deputy Director of Trade Affairs, Brian Wong (pic), urged political leaders, the media and the public to exercise restraint and avoid speculation on judicial matters, especially cases still pending in court. Advertisement He said in a statement on Saturday that public discourse must respect the independence of enforcement authorities and the judiciary to ensure continued trust in Sabah's governance. Wong stressed that politically charged narratives have real-world consequences, potentially deterring investors and weakening confidence in the state's economic environment. He also highlighted the seriousness of the ongoing case involving key institutions, calling for calm and respect for due process to safeguard Sabah's stability and reputation. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
