KOTA KINABALU: Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has pulled Parti Usno out of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), citing irreconcilable differences with the GRS administration and its policies.
Pandikar Amin also announced that he has stepped down from all positions in the state government.
The decision comes after Usno failed to win the two seats it contested under the GRS ticket in the Nov 29 state election, leaving it without representation in the state assembly.
Local political observer Tony Paridi Bagang said the exit allows Usno to reset its political footing and shed what had become a marginal role within the ruling coalition.
“With Usno no longer in GRS, it can now court disaffected bumiputra voters and re-enter negotiations from a position of independence rather than dependency,” said Bagang, a senior lecturer at Sabah UiTM.
He noted that without any seats, Usno had little leverage within the coalition.
“Remaining in GRS without significant government posts would have reduced it to a ceremonial role with no real upside,” he said.
Bagang added that the move could be part of a broader strategy to reposition Usno ahead of future elections.
He also suggested that Usno is keeping its options open for potential realignment, including possible cooperation with Pakatan Harapan at the federal level or a role in a future opposition bloc in Sabah.
Usno’s departure is not expected to significantly impact the GRS-led state government, which remains anchored by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Bersatu Sabah led by Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
Other component parties – the Liberal Democratic Party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, and Parti Cinta Sabah – also did not secure any seats in the last state election.
Prior to the polls, Sabah STAR led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and the Sabah Progressive Party under Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee had exited GRS.
Sabah STAR has since expressed support for the GRS state government after the election.
