
BN to refine proposal for Sabah grand coalition with PH, GRS
KEPALA BATAS: Barisan Nasional (BN) will refine a proposal to form a grand coalition with Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to face the next Sabah state election, said BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said this includes addressing any points of difference between the three coalitions.
'It is primarily to ensure that the seats we contest do not overlap with one another,' he told reporters after officiating at the declaration ceremony of Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi here today.
Yesterday, in Tawau, Sabah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PH chairman, said that cooperation between PH, BN and GRS in the Sabah election is crucial to guarantee political stability at both the national and state levels.
So far, according to Anwar, discussions among Sabah PH, Sabah BN and GRS are still ongoing and have yet to be finalised, while the previous statement on Sabah PH-BN cooperation for the state polls only involves the two coalitions and does not yet include GRS.
Last Saturday, Unity Government Secretariat chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in a joint statement that PH and BN had agreed to work together in facing the next Sabah election.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Sabah parties gear up for polls
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's political parties are gearing up for the 17th state election amid a flurry of possible electoral pacts, but firm deals have yet to materialise. Major players, including the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and its former ally-turned-rival Barisan Nasional, are preparing to go it alone if ongoing negotiations with potential partners fail. Observers say GRS, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Sabah Barisan, led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, are ready to go it alone if they fail to strike a deal with other political blocs. Parti Warisan, under Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, is staying out of any alliance talks, positioning itself as the alternative to both coalitions with its multiracial party platform. The coming election is expected to be shaped by a growing 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment, with voters increasingly drawn to local-based parties championing state rights and autonomy. This political mood has fuelled support for both Warisan and GRS in recent years while putting pressure on national coalitions to localise their campaign narrative. Hajiji, who is seen as preferring to continue cooperation with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan), stated yesterday that GRS was ready to face the election, with its machinery fully trained across all constituencies. However, any pact will still require the endorsement of GRS' eight-party coalition. He added that no seat talks had taken place and that any cooperation must go through the GRS Supreme Council. CLICK TO ENLARGE So far, Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan; SAPP under former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee; and Usno, led by former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, have been adamant that GRS should contest all 73 seats on its own. These parties have pushed back against external collaborations for various reasons – Sabah STAR wants internal seat distribution settled first, SAPP rejects the involvement of national parties, and Usno has demanded greater respect and fair seat allocation, warning it may walk away from the coalition if sidelined. Given that at least eight assemblymen, including four ministers from Hajiji's Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), are embroiled in a bribery scandal involving mining licence approvals, the ruling coalition must carefully navigate any potential pact with Pakatan to reach a mutually agreeable seat-sharing formula. Any potential deal between GRS and Pakatan is expected to hinge on the local bloc being allowed to contest at least 53 to 55 of the 73 seats at stake. GRS, Sabah Pakatan and Sabah Barisan have not publicly disclosed the seats they are targeting. Some observers believe that even if an agreement is reached, some seats could still be left open to free-for-all contests. Meanwhile, Sabah Pakatan is also exploring a separate seat-sharing formula with Sabah Barisan to remain aligned with the federal-level unity government. At the national level, leaders from both coalitions have expressed support for working together in Sabah. Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, speaking at the PKR congress in Johor Baru on May 24, said, 'I have discussed the matter with Barisan Nasional and Umno chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 'We will work together on the condition that Pakatan Harapan is recognised as a partner to fight for the people of Sabah.' Anwar has appointed Sabah Pakatan chairman cum Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick to lead coordination efforts for the state election. By placing a Sabahan face at the forefront, Pakatan appears to be repackaging itself to appeal to local sentiments, positioning the coalition as part of Sabah rather than just a federal extension. However, political observers observe that while national leaders are advocating for unity, Sabah leaders seem to be following a different path. GRS comprises eight local parties: PGRS (Gagasan Rakyat), Sabah STAR, SAPP, Usno, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS). Barisan comprises peninsula-based parties such as Umno, MCA and MIC, along with its Sabah component, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS). Pakatan consists of PKR, DAP, Amanah and Upko. The 17th Sabah state election must be held following the dissolution of the state assembly, which is due by 11 Nov, 2025. Speculation is rife that Hajiji may dissolve the assembly as early as the third week of July, after the official celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negri's birthday on June 21.


Focus Malaysia
19 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
PH defends Anwar amid civil suit: No grounds for gardening leave
FOR years, Malaysians heard the call from PH for prime ministers and ministers to go on 'gardening' leave or to simply quit their posts in the event of investigations against them. However, with a PH leader now leading the country, the party of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has seemingly made a U-turn on such policies. Bryan Ng Yih Miin, Strategic Director of Angkatan Muda KEADILAN (AMK) Malaysia, dismissed opposition calls for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take leave over a civil lawsuit, calling them legally baseless and contrary to parliamentary norms. He emphasised that in the Westminster system, taking leave is only appropriate in cases of criminal misconduct or serious conflicts of interest, not civil disputes. Bryan warned that applying such a standard broadly would destabilise governance, as many leaders face civil suits that do not imply guilt or criminal wrongdoing. 'In the Westminster system, only when a leader is being investigated for serious misconduct, or if there is a serious conflict of interest, would taking leave or resigning be considered appropriate or ethical,' he said. 'A civil suit, such as a defamation case, is a dispute between individuals or private parties and does not involve criminal investigations, corruption, or abuse of power in an official capacity,' he explained when contacted by Suara Keadilan. Meanwhile, Hanani Dhamirah, a member of Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia, rejected the call by Srikandi Muda Bersatu for Anwar Ibrahim to go on leave, calling it baseless and a misuse of legal processes. She argued that it does not warrant taking leave, as civil cases are personal legal disputes, not evidence of wrongdoing or prosecution. Mohamad Shahrul Adnan, Chief of Angkatan Muda Keadilan Klang added that the call is a political distraction, not grounded in legal facts. Shahrul also emphasised that there is no legal basis requiring Anwar to take leave and that he continues to perform his duties with integrity. He further accused PAS of misusing legal issues for political gain and attempting to divert attention from their own failures in state governance and lack of constructive national opposition. Shahrul urged all parties, especially PAS, to respect the ongoing legal process and avoid politicising court matters for short-term political advantage. —June 8, 2025 Main image: Media Madani


Daily Express
a day ago
- Daily Express
GRS ready to face polls: Hajiji
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 Text Size: Hajiji (middle) symbolically hands over a sacrificial cow during the Aidiladha Qurban Programme at the Tuaran District Police Headquarters on Saturday. Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, said the coalition's election machinery is fully prepared to face the coming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN). Only the seat allocations for the various components and whether it would go into battle on its own strength or in some form of collaboration and with whom remain to be finalised. Advertisement He said a series of training courses and preparations have already been carried out in each constituency. 'What's clear is that GRS is ready. We've set up our election machinery and conducted a series of courses to prepare for the polls,' he after officiating the District Police Headquarters (IPD) Hari Raya Qurban Programme in Tuaran, Saturday. Touching on Hari Raya Aidiladha, Hajiji hoped the occasion would inspire Malaysians, especially Muslims, to embrace the values of cooperation and selflessness. 'Sacrifice during Aidiladha isn't just about livestock, it's about being willing to compromise, work together, and make sacrifices for the greater good in our lives. Advertisement 'This means we must prioritise unity and the future of our multiracial society in Sabah,' he said. During the symbolic Qurban ceremony, Hajiji was joined by State Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim, State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai who is also Kiulu Assemblyman, Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau and Pantai Dalit Assemblyman Datuk Jasnih Daya. Together, they handed over a sacrificial cow to Tuaran District Police Chief, Supt Noraidin Ag Maidin. Earlier, Hajiji performed the Hari Raya Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Haji Noor in Kampung Serusop, joined by around 1,000 congregants. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia