KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) supreme council has agreed to continue working exclusively with Pakatan Harapan in preparation for the upcoming 17th state election, with the partnership subject to discussions on seat distribution.
The coalition of local parties also made it clear that there had been no discussion or consideration of cooperation with any other political party.
GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the decision was made during the council’s meeting on Sunday (Aug 10), which focused on election preparations.
“The cooperation with Pakatan has helped maintain political stability in Sabah and enabled the state government to concentrate on development efforts, including improving basic infrastructure,” he said in a statement issued after the two-hour meeting.
The meeting, headed by GRS chairman and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, was also attended by the leaders of the coalition's seven other partners.
Masidi added that GRS leaders will meet with their Pakatan counterparts soon to finalise the allocation of seats among the parties.
“GRS maintains its position that local parties should play a leading role in the cooperation to be agreed upon.
“The GRS Supreme Council did not discuss or consider any cooperation with other parties in facing the 17th state election,” he said.
Apart from Gagasan Rakyat, the seven other coalition members are Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah STAR, United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah.
