Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Gagasan Rakyat president, officiates the party’s Sulaman division annual meeting in Tuaran on Sunday.
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) never shut the door on cooperating with Barisan Nasional, but it was Barisan that first showed disinterest, claimed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“I support his (Armizan's) view, but we have yet to make a final decision. This didn’t come from me — it came from Barisan, who said they’re not interested. We shouldn’t force people if they’re not interested,” he said..
He was responding to GRS deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali’s recent remarks supporting a straight fight between the two coalitions in the 17th Sabah state election (PRN17), a proposal raised initially by Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
“GRS is ready to face anyone, but the GRS supreme council must finalise any form of political cooperation,” said Hajiji, who is also the GRS chairman, after launching the Gagasan Rakyat Sulaman division’s annual meeting in Tuaran on Sunday (June 15).
While speculation continues over the possible dissolution of the state assembly by late July or early August, Hajiji, who is also president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), said no date has been fixed — though he hinted an announcement may come after the Gagasan Rakyat general assembly at the end of July.
He also called on Gagasan Rakyat and GRS members to stay united and strengthen party machinery in preparation for the election.
On seat negotiations, Hajiji said that while no final decisions have been made, he favours continuing the current GRS-Pakatan Harapan Plus arrangement.
Hajiji, who has held the Sulaman seat since 1990, said he was confident it would remain under GRS, along with the other Tuaran constituencies of Pantai Dalit, Tamparuli and Kiulu.
