I am not contesting in GE15, says Hajiji

Hajiji (wearing dark songkok) being greeted by supporters in Tuaran.

KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor says he will not be contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15), putting an end to speculation that he will vie for the Tuaran parliamentary seat.

The Sabah Chief Minister said he had no interest in becoming a candidate despite calls for him to contest in Tuaran, which included the Sulaman state constituency he currently held.

"I am not interested," he told reporters after launching the Bersatu Tuaran division annual delegates meeting on Thursday (Oct 13).

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Hajiji, who is Sabah Bersatu chief and also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition chairman, said GRS would most likely field a candidate in Tuaran in the upcoming polls.

He said, however, the matter would be discussed further in a GRS supreme council meeting later before talks with Sabah Barisan Nasional, its GE15 ally.

"There have been 'whispers' (on Bersatu fielding a candidate in Tuaran) before and all seemed okay but we need to formalise it – let it be official when the time comes," he said.

Meanwhile, asked if GRS would be involved in clashes with allied parties, like what happened in the 2020 Sabah snap election, Hajiji said it would not happen in GE15.

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He said the parties were already considered partners who shared the same struggles.

"But we will be together with them to ensure GRS comes out as a strong party," he said.

GRS comprises Sabah Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).

Among its allies are Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, the Liberal Democratic Party and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS).

These parties had also applied to join GRS but their applications were still pending.