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The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
GRS and Barisan electoral pact unlikely in Sabah state election
KOTA KINABALU: An electoral pact between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional in the upcoming state election is improbable, according to Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) vice president Datuk Masiung Banah. He stated that it is unlikely for GRS and its former ally-turned-adversary Barisan to form an electoral understanding now, as it would confuse voters. This response follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's desire for all three parties—Barisan, GRS, and Pakatan Harapan—to avoid contesting against each other in the state election. Pakatan, led by Anwar, has already established a seat-sharing formula with Barisan and is working on a similar arrangement with GRS, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. The current political arrangement sees Pakatan candidates not being challenged by either GRS or Barisan, while GRS and Barisan are expected to contest against each other in certain seats. All three coalitions are part of the federal unity government. The ongoing localised enmity between GRS, led by Hajiji, and Sabah Barisan, led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, has prevented any form of electoral pact in the upcoming state election. In the 2020 snap state election, GRS and Barisan teamed up to overthrow the Warisan-Pakatan Harapan state government led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. However, Barisan withdrew its support for GRS in January 2023, though Hajiji remained in power with support from Sabah Pakatan assemblymen. Sabah Barisan has stayed in opposition at the state level and is critical of Hajiji's GRS government for not fulfilling agreed promises when they joined forces in 2020. "It is impossible for an understanding to be reached between GRS and Barisan, as it will confuse voters. After all, GRS and Pakatan have already reached a consensus to continue political cooperation," Masiung stated. On Sunday (Aug 3), Anwar mentioned that efforts were underway to prevent the three coalitions from contesting against each other in the 73 state seats, despite conflicts between Barisan and GRS. Anwar admitted that achieving no clashes in all seats might be difficult but hoped discussions would lead to a solution. Masiung, however, emphasised that if cooperation among the three coalitions is necessary, they would want Hajiji to lead the seat negotiations, as Anwar stated in Tawau on May 11. He asserted that GRS would not agree with Anwar's proposal for the three coalitions to form a 'triangular' electoral pact. Masiung added that GRS and Pakatan were already collaborating well, with strong political cooperation and governance. He noted that GRS has lost confidence in Barisan-Umno, which previously criticised cooperation with GRS and Pakatan after the January 2023 coup attempt, dubbed 'Kinabalu's move.' Since then, Sabah Umno and its leaders have continued to undermine the GRS-Pakatan state government through various strategies. "Sabah Umno and Barisan Sabah have decided not to work with GRS. We hope the Prime Minister respects our position and keeps his promise to allow Hajiji to lead seat negotiations with the coalitions," he added.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah polls: No deal with BN but GRS keen to keep working with Pakatan, says Hajiji
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is adamant that its partnership in the upcoming state election will not include Barisan Nasional. Its chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said while any official cooperation has yet to be formed, the coalition's priority is to maintain the existing state government formed together with Pakatan Harapan. 'Cooperation? Not yet. We want cooperation. For now, we are defending the current government. "The GRS-Pakatan government is our foundation. And we have conveyed this to the Right Honourable Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. ALSO READ: GRS must take lead for any political collaboration, says deputy chairman 'So, (as for) other matters, we will discuss them. The election has not happened yet. Dissolution (of the state assembly) has not happened either. 'So, just be patient. I will inform you,' he told the media when met at the Kota Kinabalu- Labuan ferry service launch here on Tuesday (May 27). He was responding to recent statements by Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapaha Sakmud urging GRS to finalise cooperation ahead of the election. ALSO READ: GRS must decide to go solo or pick partners, says Sabah PKR Hajiji, however, declined to comment further on the election date or strategy, instead urging all parties to await the final decision from GRS leadership. Earlier, the Chief Minister stressed that GRS would consider going solo if current state government partner Pakatan confirms its electoral pact with Barisan. The Pakatan-Barisan agreement was reached in a top-level meeting on May 8 between Pakatan chairman and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Barisan chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. ALSO READ: Federal-state unity key for Sabah growth, says Zahid It was announced by the Unity Government Secretariat in a joint statement the following day. However, Anwar, during his visit to Tawau later that week, said GRS was not out of the picture yet when it came to political cooperation. Anwar noted that he had discussed the matter with Hajiji about continuing the collaboration between Pakatan and GRS.
The Star
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Opposition in denial about Sabah's progress under current govt, says Hajiji
KOTA KINABALU: The opposition flatly refuses to accept Sabah's progress under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan government, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the opposition kept harping on a "lack of progress" but conveniently refused to acknowledge the development and economic initiatives that are in place and already benefitting the people. "We have... implemented many initiatives for the (economic) well-being of the people," Hajiji said at an event to mark the upgrading of interior Sook from a sub-district to a full district on Monday (April 28). "These claims by the opposition that the GRS-Pakatan government has not brought any development to the state are false. "These are the claims of those who deny the successes brought by the government. "However, we will not keep silent, but continue to work for the development of the state and the people," said Hajiji, who is expected to call for the dissolution of the Sabah assembly before its term is completed in November. He said assistance was also given to children from B40 families who successfully furthered their studies at higher education institutions. Other forms of student aid included IPT Registration Cash Assistance (Budi), the Special Examination Cash Assistance (Bakti), Computer Kindness Assistance (BAIK) and special subsidy on RM800 flight tickets (GRS-Subfly) to students who studying in the peninsula and Sarawak, as well as RM300 given under the Sentosa programme for higher education. "This is part of 13 state government educational assistance initiatives for eligible students," he added. Hajiji said other initiatives included the construction of 3,000 units of SMJ Friendly Houses in all 73 state constituencies at a cost of RM250mil. The latest aid this year is the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (Syukur) programme, he said, which will benefit about 100,000 recipients through cash assistance of RM300 per month until the end of the year. On the opposition's criticism about water supply, electricity and roads, Hajiji said his government inherited those decades-old problems and was in the process of solving them.
