Upko president calls for grassroots-level cooperation between GRS, Pakatan Harapan

KOTA KINABALU: Upko has no problem with Pakatan Harapan and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) being partners in the next state election but says the cooperation should already manifest at the grassroots level.

Datuk Ewon Benedick (pic) said this was because there were still a lot of matters involving the Pakatan-GRS cooperation that needed to be realised.

The Kadamaian assemblyman said he welcomed remarks by GRS deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali over the partnership being implemented at the state government level.

“However, there are many things about this cooperation that must take place, particularly in the sharing of political appointments and support from the state government on resolutions from Pakatan component parties,” he said on Sunday (Feb 18) after launching a Chinese New Year event in Penampang.

On Saturday (Feb 17), Armizan said he wanted the present unity between GRS and Pakatan to continue into the upcoming state polls due in September 2025.

The Papar MP said the current Sabah government was a unity government mainly comprised of the GRS-Pakatan plus coalition.

He said GRS appreciated the support of Pakatan assemblymen and representatives from other parties on Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's remaining as Chief Minister.

However, Benedick said that no “genuine” cooperation has been visible between GRS and Sabah Pakatan, particularly at the grassroots level.

“The grassroots are the ones who will judge how far the honesty of the cooperation which started last year.

“I will leave the matter to the Chief Minister and the state government, including the two Sabah Pakatan representatives in the state Cabinet,” he said.

On seat sharing in the state polls, Benedick reiterated he wanted fresh discussions on seat distribution.

The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister said he disagreed with views that a party could claim certain seats belonged to them by virtue of their assemblymen being the incumbents but had previously jumped ship to the party.

“There should be no party that thinks they have won (the seats) through their assemblymen who have hopped parties.

“The seat distribution needs a detailed assessment and fresh talks because the 2020 Sabah election was very different to what we have now,” Benedick said.