GRS not rushing seat talks with PH, aims for political stability in Sabah

Borneo Post

24-04-2025

Masidi
KOTA KINABALU (Apr 24): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is not in a hurry to begin seats negotiations with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
'We are not in a hurry,' said GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, who is leading the negotiations.
He explained that GRS maintains a good relationship with PH and when the time comes, they will 'sit down nicely over coffee.'
Masidi, who is also Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) deputy president, emphasised that the ultimate goal is to prioritise Sabah and ensure political stability.
'So many comparisons have been made between Sabah and Sarawak. Sarawak has prospered because it has enjoyed political stability from day one. Sarawak has had six Chief Ministers, while Sabah has already had 16. That speaks volumes about the political turbulence in Sabah, which has hindered our focus on economic development.'
He added that all component party presidents have agreed to discuss the matter informally — 'over coffee.'
One of the challenges, he said, is that everyone wants a bigger share of seat allocations.
'There are only 73 seats. The overriding consideration should be to field candidates with the best chances of winning,' he stressed after speaking at the Sabah Renewable Energy Conference 2025: Corridor to Transform Vision to Reality, held at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort on Thursday,
There are eight component parties in the GRS coalition, which is led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor. They comprise of PGRS, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
Masidi also said Sabah's thriving tourism sector is a direct result of the State's decision to protect its wildlife and natural environment instead of opting for gold.
He remarked that the people of Sabah made a conscious choice to preserve the State's lush greenery and biodiversity — choices that are now bearing fruit.
'We chose to keep the monkeys,' he quipped, referencing the metaphor 'Monkey or gold,' originally coined by a federal minister a few years ago. 'Tourism is our new gold,' he added.
Masidi also highlighted a unique aspect of Sabah's tourism industry: it is the only economic sector in the state where 95 percent of the workforce comprises locals.
'In comparison, the plantation industry employs around 80 percent Indonesians, while the construction sector comprises about 70 percent Filipinos,' he said.
When asked about the potential use of coal for power generation, Masidi stated that the people of Sabah were not keen on coal and the state government preferred to avoid it for as long as possible.
'Personally, I believe we should steer clear of it. There is simply too much at stake,' he said.
'We need to look at the long term. And the long term is about sustainability and repositioning Sabah in how it is viewed by other states, the country, and the world.'
Masidi also noted that natural gas, like all other resources, is at risk of depletion if not managed properly.
He emphasized that mitigation is crucial, explaining that the goal is to generate income and develop green energy industries without the unsustainable exploitation of Sabah's natural resources.
Given Sabah's current low reserve margin in energy supply, he acknowledged that hindrances and difficulties may arise in achieving the state's green energy ambitions. In this regard, he stressed the federal government's important role in supporting Sabah's efforts.