
Pantai Manis Gagasan Rakyat backs solo run for GRS in state polls
Published on: Sunday, June 15, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 15, 2025
By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Abdul Rahim and other leaders at the party's divisional meeting. PAPAR: Nearly 1,000 delegates of Pantai Manis Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) unanimously backed a motion urging Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to contest solo in the upcoming 17th State Election. Divisional chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Ismail said the motion came from grassroots sentiment demanding full political autonomy and an end to collaborations with other parties, especially Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno.
Advertisement He added that the division also approved a second motion endorsing the long-standing 'Sabah for Sabahans' agenda, citing decades of federal marginalisation and exploitation of state resources. While acknowledging GRS Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's continued cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Abdul Rahim said the grassroots remained firm in wanting GRS to go it alone in the next state polls. He also stressed the importance of youth development within the party, calling young members the 'reserve team' and urging all divisions to prepare for the election, which could be called at any time. * 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


Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Local parties must lead and dominate Sabah politics, says Hajiji
Sabah chief minister and GRS chairman Hajiji Noor said the people want local parties to lead the government. 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.


Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Hajiji gets top marks for helping Sabah ‘turn the corner'
Former Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin said the GRS administration, led by Hajiji Noor, has implemented several 'notable' initiatives such as the setting up of the energy commission, and moves towards asserting energy sovereignty. PETALING JAYA : A former Sabah Law Society president has praised chief minister Hajiji Noor's leadership, saying his administration is helping the state turn the corner. In a Facebook post, Roger Chin said Hajiji's government is laying the foundations of a more self-reliant, results-driven administration. Chin noted several initiatives implemented by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah administration, such as the establishment of the state's energy commission. He said the setting up of the Energy Commission of Sabah marked a turning point in how the state governs its most strategic resource. The state government's decision to take back 50% equity in the producing Semarang oil field under state-owned SMJ Energy was also a significant marker of progress in asserting energy sovereignty, he said. 'This shift aligns with the broader spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) implementation – returning rights and agency to Sabah without fanfare, but with focus.' Chin also described as 'notable' the creation of the Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, which he said were the building blocks of an investor-friendly ecosystem. The state's ability to secure long-term, high-impact investments, such as E-Steel's manufacturing facility and other FDI-led industrial projects, reflected such a shift. 'These are not fly-by-night deals but strategic entries into Sabah's industrial and logistics backbone, particularly in energy-adjacent and halal sectors,' he said. Chin said Sabah has also improved its fiscal standing, noting that the state revenue has seen stable growth, with increased allocations to development budgets. Sabah's reserves have surged to RM86 billion from the RM2.93 billion recorded in 2020, which he said was a clear indicator of improved financial governance and expanding revenue streams. 'This reflects not just fiscal prudence, but also stronger performance from some state-linked companies,' he said. He also said the Sabah government has expanded rural electrification, water access, and road upgrades, which were 'critical interventions' for a state where more than 40% of the population lives outside urban centres. Chin said while the state government was gradually tackling longstanding issues in land recognition and native customary rights, much remains to be done. While bureaucratic delays, inequality, and capacity constraints persist, he said, the approach adopted by the state government has shifted. 'Instead of headline-chasing, the Sabah government has chosen institutional depth and economic realism, a style of leadership that may not always grab national attention but is increasingly delivering results on the ground,' he said.


The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Sabah govt committed to preserving state's cultural, multi-ethnic heritage
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government remains committed to implementing comprehensive initiatives aimed at preserving and strengthening the cultural heritage of the state's multi-racial communities, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the ongoing efforts were crucial to ensure the state's cultural treasures continued to be preserved, appreciated and passed down to future generations amid rapid global changes. 'In an ever-changing world, it is vital to ensure that local culture remains relevant and is understood by both present and future generations. The younger generation are not just inheritors but also guardians of the heritage that will shape the future of this state. 'The preservation of cultural heritage is essential to ensure the continuity of a community's identity, values and traditions. I therefore hope that ethnic associations in the state will continue to promote their respective cultures, customs and languages so that they are not lost over time,' he said in a statement in conjunction with the Sabah Ethnic Day celebration here tonight. The event was officiated by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Musa Aman, who was accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin. Also present was Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who is also the State Local Government and Housing Minister. Hajiji said efforts to preserve cultural heritage would also help attract more tourists to Sabah, in line with the state government's target of 3.5 million tourist arrivals this year. 'The spirit of goodwill in diversity is the foundation of the people's strength in this state. Therefore, I urge all Sabahans to continue nurturing the values of tolerance, mutual respect and harmony regardless of ethnic or religious background,' he said.