KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is eyeing a stronger presence in Parliament, targeting more than 15 of Sabah's 25 parliamentary seats in the next general election.
Speaking after a GRS supreme council meeting chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Tuesday (Oct 6), secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said electoral simulations based on the November 2025 state election show GRS can realistically win 14 to 15 seats, but the coalition aims higher.
"Fourteen seats are not enough. We want a stronger, united Sabah voice in Parliament to effectively champion the state's interests," Armizan said, noting that Sabah's 25 seats carry significantly more weight when held as a cohesive local bloc.
While GRS currently governs Sabah alongside Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, Armizan said that evolving political dynamics in Peninsular Malaysia could influence future state alliances.
He emphasised that GRS is prioritising internal strength and respecting voters' mandate for local-based parties.
The recent addition of UPKO as GRS’s sixth component party—joining Gagasan Rakyat, PBS, LDP, PCS, and PHRS—further solidifies GRS as the primary platform for Sabah-based political unity, Armizan added.
The coalition will evaluate its five-year track record and manifestos at the upcoming GRS Convention 2026, scheduled for Oct 18 in Kudat. Expecting 2,500 delegates, the convention will feature policy presentations by GRS state ministers alongside community development programs in Kudat and Banggi Island.
