KOTA KINABALU: Hit by the exit of two senior partners ahead of the state assembly's dissolution, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is banking on Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) for support from the ethnic Kadazandusun Rungus and Murut communities.
GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he is confident that PBS, led by its acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, is strong enough to keep the non-Muslim native support within the coalition following the exit of Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan last week.
He added that five Sabah STAR assemblymen are with GRS now, but did not say if they would be fielded as candidates in the 17th state election.
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Four of the five – Datuk Flovia Ng (Tulid), Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin (Sook), Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan) and Datuk Annuar Ayub Aman (Liawan) – were at the announcement of the assembly's dissolution on Monday (Oct 6).
Datuk Robert Tawik (Bingkor), who is unwell, was not present.
Hajiji said GRS is committed to working with Pakatan Harapan because it was under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Sabah regained nine of its powers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
"Our state government is GRS-Pakatan. Our state and federal relations are very good, and we must continue this for the sake of Sabah’s future and development.
"Why should we quarrel with the Federal Government when it is our government as well?" he said, adding that in the fight for state interests, it was also vital to preserve national interests.
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He said both Sabah STAR and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, wanted to use their own party logos to contest in this election and as such, automatically lost their membership in GRS as they would be going against the partnership with Pakatan.
Hajiji said GRS was prepared to go up against SAPP and Sabah STAR candidates, and dismissed any possibility of working together again after the state polls.
Asked about the possibility that some Pakatan parties might want to use their own logos, he said he could not answer on their behalf, and that it was their right to do so.
"For GRS, any of our members who contest using their own logos are automatically out," Hajiji stressed.
All GRS component party presidents joined Hajiji at today's announcement.
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Also present from Pakatan were Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick, Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe and Sabah PKR deputy chief Datuk Peto Galim, among other leaders.
At the time of dissolution, GRS had 35 assemblymen, Sabah Barisan Nasional 12 (including two suspended), Warisan 14, Pakatan seven, Parti KDM two, and PAS one.
Sabah STAR with seven seats and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) with one seat pulled out of the coalition last week, protesting against GRS’ pact with Pakatan.
The Sungai Sibuga seat held by Umno is now vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain.
In an earlier interview with The Star, Kitingan said he expected many of his assemblymen not to follow him, but the party has sufficient candidates to replace them.
Ellron had stated that the five representatives' decision to remain with GRS came after Kitingan’s announcement that Sabah STAR was leaving the coalition.
