GRS reiterates full support for unity government

KOTA KINABALU: Reiterating its full support for the unity government, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) wants the focus to be on strengthening the national economy.

GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (pic) said the state coalition government was steadfast in its support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Frankly, I say we (GRS) feel comfortable under this unity government, we feel valued as every partner is seen as important.

“The focus should be on economic recovery as many people’s lives are affected by the uncertain economic situation at the moment,” he told reporters after attending a joint Christmas celebration by GRS component parties Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah STAR at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association ( KDCA) near here yesterday.

Masidi, who is the state Finance Minister, said it was important that all parties “temporarily put aside” what he termed as petty political differences and lend a hand to the all-important task of building the economy.

He was reaffirming remarks by Anwar on Saturday that any group aiming to overthrow the unity government could no longer depend on the support of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and GRS.

The Prime Minister had said that Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed to him that there were desperate attempts by several quarters to influence him.

Masidi said the national economy needed to be strengthened as the Federal Government could then get on with the task of uniting Malaysians across various religious, ethnic and cultural divides.

Asked whether GRS might consider teaming up with Malay-based peninsula parties in the next state election due anytime in the next 20 months, he said “political cooperation based on race and religion in Sabah is not a priority.”

“If we feel the pulse of the people, they are fed up with the problems and conflicts of race. If we look at GRS and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, it is a coalition of multi-racial parties,” he said, pointing out that Sabah’s political history was quite different that of the peninsula as ethnic issues were not a key emphasis.