Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has a 'win-win' formula to strengthen GRS for the upcoming state election.
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan says he has a "win-win" seat sharing plan among the eight party Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), with adjustments to include Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, if the need arises.
The Sabah STAR president, who is keeping his formula under wraps from the media, says that it would be fair to all GRS components, including those currently without seats.
He said the plan aims to keep GRS intact while addressing its relationship with Pakatan and Barisan, ahead of the state election, which is due by September this year.
"We were supposed to have a meeting on seat allocation on Feb 23, but I asked GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for a postponement so I can engage with all party presidents.
“There is no use having a meeting if we continue to argue with no conclusion. I have met most of them and am scheduled to meet two more soon. I have a formula that ensures fairness among the eight component parties while allowing non-seat-holding parties to contest.
"Most components prefer to keep GRS united, which simplifies the seat distribution process," said Kitingan, who is deputy chairman of GRS led by Hajiji, who is also Sabah Chief Minister.
Apart from Sabah STAR, GRS comprise of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) under acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) led by Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah.
The other components without a seat are United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) led by Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) headed by Tan Sri Anifah Aman and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) under Datuk Chin Su Phin.
He noted that there is a way to collaborate without full political integration.
“We must ensure that cooperation with national parties does not compromise Sabah’s autonomy. The goal is to run our own affairs while working together where necessary.
“Peninsula leaders must understand that Sabahans are not against them. We simply want control over our own destiny. If national parties continue imposing their presence and taking Sabah seats, then the very purpose of forming Malaysia is lost. We were promised autonomy, yet federal parties still control our leadership.
“Sabah must not become a political colony again. GRS must remain dominant. So if we contest alone, one strategy applies, if we go with GRS Plus, adjustments will be necessary.
"Politics is unpredictable, but my position remains clear - Sabah must be like Sarawak. "Rumah kita, kita jaga" (We take care of our own house) … that is the philosophy," said Kitingan, who is Deputy Chief Minister I.
He said it was important for GRS to prioritise the seats of its anchor parties - Gagasan Rakyat, PBS and Sabah STAR - which won a total of 24 of the 73 seats in the September 2020 state election.
Gagasan Rakyat was formed in 2023 after Hajiji and its leaders left Bersatu in December 2022 following the formation of the unity government.
"Our strategy should prioritise these three parties before accommodating others. If we expand GRS Plus, existing allocations must be adjusted accordingly," he said, referring to 11 seats won by Gagasan Rakyat (under Bersatu), seven by PBS and six by PBS.
On the possible collaboration with opposition Parti Warisan, Kitingan said: “In politics, anything is possible. We can work with anyone if circumstances demand it.
“GRS has not made any comments on this. Within the coalition, we have more or less finalised seat negotiations, only specific locations remain undecided.
Sabah's political alignments have been reshaped through crossovers with GRS parties now holding 42 seats and its coalition partner Sabah Pakatan holding seven seats.
Sabah PAS, an ally of GRS, has one nominated seat in the 79-member state assembly.
Warisan has 14 seats, Sabah Barisan-Umno with 13 seats (including two suspended for supporting GRS) and Parti KDM two seats.
