Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (fifth left) showing unity by holding the hands of Parti Bersatu Sabah acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam (fourth left) and Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (third right) when officially closing the parties joint convention on Saturday (July 12).
KOTA KINABALU: A resounding call for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to contest the upcoming 17th state election on its own was echoed by grassroots supporters during the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) - Sabah STAR unity convention on Saturday (July 12).
As GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor took to the stage at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang, the 7,000-strong crowd broke into chants of “Solo! Solo! Solo!”, sending a clear message that many within the coalition’s base want the local-based coalition to go it alone, free from alliances with national-based parties.
Hajiji, who had previously suggested the possibility of an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan, appeared to avoid addressing the issue directly during his speech.
Instead, he focused on internal unity, telling the crowd, “Rumah kita, kita jaga” (Our Home, We Protect).
“Unity is duty,” he added, stressing the importance of staying united as a Sabah-based coalition.
Earlier, Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan had rallied the crowd, urging them to back the proposal for GRS to contest the state election independently.
His repeated calls of “GRS!” were met with an enthusiastic and united response of “Solo!” from party members and supporters of both Sabah STAR and PBS.
“Sabah STAR’s position is clear, we want GRS to contest solo in the next state election. We want to ensure the people of Sabah are governed by local leaders who understand our struggles, aspirations and identity,” Kitingan said.
He stressed that the time had come for Sabahans to assert their political independence and not be beholden to political parties based in the Peninsula.
“We believe in charting our own path. Local-based parties like GRS are best placed to defend Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and to champion issues that truly matter to our people.
“National parties have their own agenda … we cannot allow that to dilute Sabah’s voice any longer,” he added.
PBS acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam expressed similar sentiments, saying the groundswell of support from the grassroots was impossible to ignore.
“Our members are very clear. They want GRS to be a Sabah-centric coalition. They want to see us stand tall, without leaning on or being dictated to by parties from Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
While Hajiji, who is also the Chief Minister and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president, did not directly address whether GRS would go solo in the next election, he acknowledged the sentiments from the floor and said the coalition would make its decision based on what was best for Sabah and its people.
Kitingan, meanwhile, said the chants heard at the convention signalled a shift in Sabah’s political consciousness.
“The people are no longer content to be passengers. They want to drive … and they want local leaders in the driver’s seat,” he said.
With state polls drawing closer, the strong grassroots showing at Saturday’s convention could mark a turning point in how GRS positions itself ahead of the contest.
“This is not just about politics. It is about pride, identity, and the future of Sabah. If we are united, we will win, and this time, we will win for ourselves.” said Kitingan.
