KOTA KINABALU: Any consideration of new political allies in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) should be done meticulously and not be rushed, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Sweeping aside Upko vice-president Datuk Ewon Benedick's comment on why the coalition has yet to accept applications from local parties, Hajiji, who is GRS chairman, said they move on their own timing.
Ewon, the opposition Kadamaian lawmaker on Saturday (June 18) raised the question that if the GRS state government was serious in uniting all Sabah local parties, why have they not approved requests from Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to join the coalition.
He accused GRS of simply playing up local sentiments but failed to translate this vision into reality.
"That is his (Ewon) opinion, we have our planning within GRS.
"Whatever we do is for the best of Sabah and for the unity of the parties (involved) in this state.
"Give us space and some time, we can't simply make abrupt decisions.
"We have (our) ways when accepting (new) political partners that want to join GRS.
"So these applications are still being considered in detail," Hajiji told reporters after officiating at the Sabah Cocoa Festival on Sunday (June 19).
At present, GRS consists of Sabah PPBM, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah Star, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Usno.
Besides the three earlier local parties mentioned, the government-friendly Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah has also handed in its application to join GRS.
