KOTA KINABALU: Upko has been accepted as the sixth member party of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the decision by its supreme council was unanimous, with no objections raised.
"We unanimously agreed to accept Upko as a new member of GRS. Starting today, they are officially part of GRS.
"We will be formally convey our decision to UPKO," he said told reporters at a press conference after chairing the meeting attended by all five component parties here on Thursday (June 18).
Apart from Hajiji, who is who is Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president, the leaders of Parti Bersatu Sabah under acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Parti Liberal Demokratik Datuk Chin Su Phin, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah led by Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah and Parti Cinta Sabah led by Tan Sri Anifah Aman were present at the meeting.
"This acceptance is in line with GRS' struggle – Sabah United, Sabah First – and the effort to strengthen local component parties. We want to create and maintain the stability of the current state government," he said.
"Everyone agreed because we want to strengthen GRS. So there is no issue of concern or other matters," he said when asked if any component parties had raised concerns over Upko's application to join GRS.
On whether other parties might join GRS in the future, Hajiji said it was enough for now.
Upko, who is part of the GRS coalition state government, formally applied to join GRS on May 9 with its president Datuk Ewon Benedick stressing that the move was to strengthen local based parties in GRS.
Upko left the Pakatan Harapan coalition before the state election in 2025 and contested solo and won three seats.
Three parties – Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Usno – also quit GRS before and after the state election.
