GRS must have nothing to do with Umno: LDP
Published on: Mon, Jul 14, 2025 Text Size: Chin said that if negotiations fail, both coalitions may contest independently in a friendly match with government formation discussions taking place post-election. Kota Kinabalu: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has called on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to steer clear of any electoral alliance with Barisan Nasional-Umno in the coming 17th state election. LDP president Datuk Chin Su Phin pointed out the importance of maintaining good relations with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, regardless of the state election outcome. 'It is imperative that the coalition or party that wins has an amicable relationship with its federal counterparts,' Chin said following a unanimous decision by the LDP Supreme Council, Sunday. He said the GRS is likely to negotiate seat distribution with PH for the state polls, but pointed out that the federal coalition must have genuine commitment to working with GRS. He suggested PH limit itself to contesting no more than 20 seats. Chin said that if negotiations fail, both coalitions may contest independently in a friendly match with government formation discussions taking place post-election. He expressed particular concern about DAP's ambitions to contest six to eight Chinese-majority seats, saying this could squeeze out Chinese-based component parties within GRS. Addressing Chinese voters specifically, Chin cautioned against supporting Parti Warisan despite strong local party sentiment in Chinese-majority constituencies. He said Warisan's limited appeal beyond Chinese voters particularly among the Kadazandusun community and in Malay seats makes it unlikely to form government even if it wins all six Chinese-majority seats. 'If Warisan fails to form the State Government, Chinese voters will inevitably be labelled as the opposition,' he said, urging the community to exercise wisdom in their voting decisions. He called for continued GRS governance, citing political stability and economic growth under the current administration, adding that the government changes typically result in policy shifts that deter investment and hinder economic progress for two to three years. The LDP Supreme Council also approved a motion to freeze the Pantai Manis division during the meeting. * 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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Trump says Coca-Cola agreed to use real cane sugar in US
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Coca-Cola had agreed to use cane sugar in its beverages in the US following his discussions with the company. "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said the Atlanta-based company will share details on new offerings soon and that it appreciates Trump's enthusiasm for its product. Coca-Cola produced for the US market is typically sweetened with corn syrup, while the company uses cane sugar in some other countries. The Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, named for the social movement aligned with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed food companies to alter their formulations to remove ingredients such as artificial dyes. Kennedy has also been critical of the amount of sugar consumed in the American diet and has said that updated dietary guidelines released this summer will advise Americans to eat "whole food." A May report by the MAHA Commission, a panel convened by Trump and tasked with identifying the root causes of chronic disease, said substantial consumption of high-fructose corn syrup could play a role in childhood obesity and other conditions. Medical experts recommend limiting added sugar in diets, but have not identified significant differences between cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Corn producers concentrated in the US Midwest have long wielded considerable influence over lawmakers in Washington. The president's home state of Florida is the nation's top sugarcane producer. "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense," said Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode. "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The MAHA Commission includes Kennedy, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and several other cabinet members and officials. The Trump administration has approved some states' requests to exclude soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), adding pressure to companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Gunmen kill 27 in central Nigeria: official
ABUJA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 27 people were killed in an attack by suspected gunmen in Plateau State in central Nigeria, which has recently witnessed increased attacks, a senior official said Wednesday. Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, told the media during an on-the-spot assessment of the havoc in the Bindi community of Riyom local government area that aside from the casualties, the gunmen also destroyed houses, crops on farmlands, and other valuable properties during the attack early Tuesday. The gunmen rode motorbikes into the community, firing indiscriminately at residents while also setting homes and farmlands ablaze. "I am calling on the security agencies to redouble their efforts. We need to reappraise our strategy and tactics," the governor said, calling for a concerted effort to halt the bloodshed and wanton destruction of property. The motive behind the latest attack remains unclear. Plateau State, located in Nigeria's central region between the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south, has witnessed repeated attacks in recent years. Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnaps in recent months.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Egypt, China sign deal for flagship industrial zone expansion
CAIRO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Egypt and China signed on Wednesday a deal for the expansion of the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, with Chinese developer TEDA set to invest 100 million U.S. dollars in infrastructure to develop an additional 2.86 square kilometers at the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone). The deal was signed between the SCZone, the Main Development Company (MDC), and TEDA Egypt in a ceremony attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. The expansion comes as TEDA nears completion of its previously allocated 7.34 square kilometers in Ain Sokhna area at the SCZone, bringing the total area of its industrial zone to more than 10 square kilometers, according to the statement. The 100-million-U.S.-dollar infrastructure investment is expected to help attract more diverse industrial investments and support the SCZone's goal of building integrated and sustainable industrial communities. Madbouly stressed "the importance of this cooperation in accelerating industrial development within the SCZone, whose capabilities qualify it to become one of the most important manufacturing and logistics hubs in the region." He said Egypt is working to strengthen partnerships with local and foreign private sectors to drive development and create jobs, praising the SCZone's achievements that have fueled developers' desire for further expansion. Established in 2008, the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has become one of the SCZone's most prominent industrial hubs, having attracted 185 companies and over 3 billion U.S. dollars in cumulative investment. SCZone chairman Waleid Gamal Eldien said that the TEDA expansion "represents a new platform for localizing targeted industries within the zone and contributes to attracting more Chinese companies seeking access to regional and global markets." He noted that the SCZone has attracted Chinese investments exceeding 4 billion U.S. dollars over the past three years, adding that "the mutual trust between both sides and their shared goals pave the way to double this figure in the coming period." Cao Hui, executive director of Egypt-TEDA SEZone Development Company, told Xinhua that TEDA is committed to high-quality development in line with the Belt and Road Initiative and continues to advance the strategic upgrading of the TEDA zone. TEDA plans to fully develop the expanded area within 2 to 3 years, focusing on attracting high-end manufacturing enterprises, including those in new energy, new materials, automobiles and spare parts, and fine chemicals, Cao added.
