ROS allows GRS to use coalition's symbol for GE15

KOTA KINABALU: The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has given the go ahead for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to use its symbol for the 15th General Election.

The GRS symbol - comprising the words GRS with the silhouette of Mount Kinabalu in the background - has been allowed to be officially used by the Election Commission for elections, effective Sept 2.

GRS secretary-general Datuk Masidi Manjun (pic) said that he expects members of the five-party coalition to use the symbol during the election.

"Should be," he said when asked if all the GRS parties would be using the state coalition's symbol.

GRS comprises Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Usno.

The current Sabah administration is led by the GRS-Barisan government.

Sabah Bersatu, Sabah STAR and SAPP are also members of Perikatan Nasional at the national level.

GRS was a loose coalition of nine parties including Barisan parties that was formed during the September 2020 snap state election that toppled the two-year-old Warisan Plus government under Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The coalition was officially registered in March this year by the ROS but Sabah Barisan led by Umno decided not to be part of the coalition explaining that Barisan was a coalition on its own.

GRS party officials expect their components to use their symbol in the coming general election. So far, only Sabah STAR has confirmed it will be using the coalition's symbol.

Four more parties - Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) led by Datuk Peter Anthony, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) led by Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) led by Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Datuk Chin Su Phin - have applied to join GRS.

Their applications remain on the table with the GRS supreme council yet to make a decision.

KDM, a breakaway from Warisan, has two incumbent assemblymen while a third Warisan assemblyman joined Harapan Rakyat.

GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sabah Barisan chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin are expected to discuss possible seat sharing for the coming election amid overlapping demand between Bersatu and Umno.