Local parties must lead and dominate Sabah politics, says Hajiji
PETALING JAYA : Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said local parties must be dominant in Sabah politics and prioritised when forming alliances for the 17th state election.
He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government, which is formed by local parties, must be defended and continued in the upcoming election.
'We want to continue this government, and that is why this election is important. We must not make the wrong choice. Local parties must be dominant in Sabah's political landscape and must be prioritised,' he said at the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) annual congress in Kota Belud today.
Hajiji said any discussions on cooperation with other parties should not come at the expense of local leadership.
'Cooperation is another matter, but GRS as a local coalition must be defended. This aligns with the sentiment of the people on the ground who want local parties to lead the government.
'As GRS chairman, I will ensure this,' he said.
Hajiji said he would not hand over the rights and struggle of GRS to those with ill intentions.
'I will not easily surrender what GRS stands for to those trying to undermine the coalition,' he said.
He urged leaders and members of all GRS component parties, including Usno, to go to the ground and engage with the public on the coalition's 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', and 'Sabah First' philosophies.
'This is our mission. When we say, 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', it should be understood clearly. We shouldn't have to explain bit by bit. It's simple, we take care of our own,' he said.
Yesterday, Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud said official negotiations with GRS were set to begin ahead of the state election, following approval from the PKR and PH central leadership.
However, GRS deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali said the coalition should 'honour' Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin's call for it to contest against BN in the polls before discussions on any possible cooperation.
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