KOTA KINABALU: USNO president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has pulled his party out of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition government.
When contacted on Wednesday (Apr 22), Pandikar confirmed he had resigned as deputy chairman of GRS and quit all government-related positions.
Pandikar officially informed Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor of the party's stand during a meeting on Apr 21.
Pandikar, whose party failed to win the two state seats it contested in last year’s state election, said the party supreme council had endorsed the decision to leave the coalition.
He stated that the decision was taken due to irreconcilable differences with GRS's administration and government policy, particularly following the 17th Sabah state election.
Despite the exit, Pandikar said the party would continue its struggle for the state and the people. He also thanked GRS and its partners for their cooperation during Usno’s time in the coalition.
Just before the state election, Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, and the Sabah Progressive Party, under Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, also quit GRS.
However, after the Nov 29 state election, Kitingan backed the GRS state coalition government.
GRS now consists of four component parties: Hajiji's Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Cinta Sabah and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS).
