KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor says he believes Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin understands why Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) is supporting a unity government,
When asked about Muhyiddin's reaction to they party's decision support the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he said: "We were thinking of Sabah's interest and I think Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) would be aware of this (as) he is a wise person.
"I think we don't have a problem because this is our decision in GRS," he said after tabling the 2023 Sabah Budget at the state legislative assembly here on Friday (Nov 25).
Hajiji, whose five-party GRS won six seats in GE15, had on Monday (Nov 21) voiced GRS' support for Muhyiddin, the Perikatan Nasional chairman, as the 10th Prime Minister.
However, on Thursday (Nov 24), he said GRS was agreeable to the formation of a unity government as advised by the King.
Besides Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Bersatu Sabah and the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), GRS comprises and was headed by the Sabah Bersatu chapter.
Bersatu is the dominant party in the Perikatan coalition which also comprises Sabah STAR, SAPP, PAS and Gerakan.
Hajiji also did not directly say if GRS' relations with Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan – which are part of the state Opposition – would change.
"I don't think there would be a problem. All the leaders of the parties are mature. They will also think of the state and its people.
"We (GRS) have another three years to rule the state so we don't wish to have too much politicking or disturbances because what's important to us is the state's and the people's interest," he said.
Hajiji also said the Anti-Party Hopping Bill will not be tabled in the current state assembly sitting yet as the focus is on the state budget.