GRS and BN to cooperate in Sabah during GE15

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are all set to work together as a united front during the impending 15th General Election.

Leaders from both sides are ironing out the final details of the seat-sharing formula for the 25 Parliament seats in Sabah.

Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and GRS secretary Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said they had agreed to work together for GE15.

"Both sides have agreed to work together for GE15 and we are finalising seat-sharing arrangements to ensure victory for our respective candidates," Masidi said when contacted.

"We are working together. We will make an announcement about seat distribution when the time is right," Bung said when contacted.

This puts an end to possible clashes between the two coalitions that comprise the ruling state government.

Barisan Nasional comprises Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), MCA and MIC while GRS comprises Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Usno.

Talk of the two coalitions facing off against each other in GE15 has been simmering in view of the Umno and Bersatu clash at national level.

The pact between Barisan and GRS is expected to strengthen the two coalitions who will face a fractured opposition – Parti Warisan led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Sabah Pakatan Harapan.

Warisan has severed ties with Pakatan and has indicated they will go solo in GE15 – barring any moves to resolve their differences.

In the 2018 General Election, Warisan and Pakatan won 14 seats while Sabah Barisan parties won 10 seats and (then opposition) Sabah STAR won one.

Currently, Warisan holds seven parliamentary seats, Barisan (three seats), GRS (eight), Pakatan Harapan (five), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (one) while the Batu Sapi seat remains vacant following the death of Warisan's Datuk VK Liew.