GRS should challenge BN in Sabah polls, says Armizan
Armizan
KOTA KINABALU (June 14): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has called for the coalition to face off against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the upcoming state election.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said a direct contest would allow voters to decide who should govern Sabah, aligning with Sabah BN chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's preference for BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to compete without GRS.
'Everyone must respect Bung Moktar's stance. No one should dismiss his autonomy as Sabah Umno chief,' Armizan said in a statement on Saturday.
'A direct contest will end accusations that a party's victory was due to another's support rather than its own strength.'
On June 2, Bung had ruled out pre-election cooperation with GRS, citing past tensions. However, Armizan clarified that his view was personal and not an official GRS position.
He stressed that GRS remains open to collaboration with PH and other parties that form the state government, praising PH for rejecting the 'Langkah Kinabalu' move and backing Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister.
'Today's government functions well under the current partnership, but grassroots GRS supporters want to compete against BN,' he said.
Armizan added that being part of the federal Unity Government should not prevent state-level contests, noting that past elections in Sabah, Melaka and Johor saw similar clashes among federal allies.
'The Unity Government's MoU doesn't mandate state-level cooperation. State polls are about choosing a state government, not the federal administration,' he said.
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