Hajiji to set Sabah polls direction at Gagasan Rakyat AGM on July 27
Giving few hints as to whether his party would push Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to go solo or enter an electoral pact with Sabah Pakatan Harapan in the 17th state election, due by Nov 11, the Gagasan Rakyat president told reporters the answer would come at the AGM.
'Just wait for my speech this Sunday," he said when met on Friday (July 25).
The AGM on Sunday is expected to see over 2,000 delegates from 74 divisions in Sabah and Labuan attending.
It will be closely watched by the party's coalition partners in GRS, who prefer the local grouping to contest on its own.
Observers anticipate Hajiji's speech to indicate to party members if he prefers that GRS continue its electoral arrangements with Sabah Pakatan, in line with creating political stability for the state as well as the federal unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Hajiji, the Sabah Chief Minister, is also expected to indicate the likely dates for the dissolution of the state assembly, which could be in August or closer to the full term of the 16th state assembly in October.
Three key components of GRS – Sabah STAR led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, and Usno led by Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia – are pushing for the coalition to go solo amid growing calls for Sabah to regain its autonomous political rights through local parties.
However, Hajiji has hinted that he preferred GRS to have a dominant role in any electoral pact with Sabah Pakatan.
Another GRS partner, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), is also agreeable to Hajiji's idea of retaining dominance.
The Gagasan Rakyat gathering begins on Saturday (July 26) with the Youth, Wanita and Beliawanis meetings.
The wings are also expected to state their preference for the upcoming polls, while pushing for younger candidates to be fielded.
On Friday, Hajiji officiated the party's closed-door Gasak17 information seminar at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
He asked the information chiefs from all divisions to activate their machinery to explain party objectives, what has been done for the state, and current political issues.
He said all levels of the party must disseminate information needed to boost support and answer questions from the ground on arising issues.
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