a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
GRS to consider opinion of component parties before entering election pacts
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor will consider the opinion of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties regarding a proposed pact for the state election.
GRS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said ultimately, any collaboration must be a collective decision among Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Liberal Democratic Party, Parti Cinta Sabah, United Sabah National Organisation, Sabah Progressive Party and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah.
"I think most political parties, especially the local parties within GRS, have made their stand clear as far as working with Umno is concerned.
"The stand of Parti Bersatu Sabah is: don't let GRS work with Umno-Barisan Nasional. You don't want to work with us, it's okay. That is why there is nothing wrong with us saying we will not work with you, after all," he told the media after launching the Community-Based Tourism Expo at a shopping mall here.
Present was Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew.
Joniston, who is also the state assistant minister of tourism, culture and environment, was responding to the inconsistent statements from BN leaders regarding an election pact with GRS.
Earlier this week, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition was open to working with GRS and others. However, Sabah BN chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin stated that there should be no middleman in discussions between Sabah BN and GRS.
Joniston also said Hajiji had indicated he would like existing parties in the state government to continue leading after the 17th state election.
However, he clarified that although the current GRS–Pakatan Harapan (PH) government includes several Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives, this did not mean that BN was part of the state government.
"Like what the chief minister said, we want to continue working with the existing partners we have in running the state government. And BN is not part of it.
"But as you all know, BN per se is not part of the government. What we have are Umno representatives who are members of the state cabinet."
In January 2022, Bung allegedly led a bid by Sabah BN lawmakers to topple Hajiji's administration.
However, the attempt failed when assemblymen Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, Datuk James Ratib, Datuk Jasnih Daya and Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari, among others, defied his order to withdraw their support for Hajiji. GRS currently controls 38 of the 73 state seats, while Umno holds 11 and PH has seven.
