Latest news with #KinabaluMove
Daily Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
GRS-PH alliance firm, no plan to include BN: Masiung
Published on: Monday, August 04, 2025 Published on: Mon, Aug 04, 2025 Text Size: TONGOD: Any formal cooperation involving Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 17th State Election is unlikely, said Gagasan Rakyat Vice President Datuk Masiung Banah ( pic ). He said such a three-way understanding may confuse voters, adding that GRS and PH had already agreed to continue their existing political collaboration. Responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's suggestion on Sunday, Masiung said Gagasan Rakyat, a main pillar of GRS, would prefer to maintain its current alliances. Anwar, during a meeting with Sabah PKR leaders in Kota Kinabalu, had expressed hope to avoid three-cornered fights through negotiations between GRS, BN, and PH. Masiung stated that GRS had lost trust in BN following the 'Kinabalu Move' episode, which he said involved betrayal and subsequent attacks against the coalition. He said GRS and PH have established a working relationship through the State Government's administration and do not intend to complicate matters with a new arrangement. Masiung urged Anwar to respect their position and honour his earlier commitment for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, also GRS chairman, to lead seat negotiations among allied parties. * 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
Free Malaysia Today
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Kinabalu Move' was about state govt posts, says Kunak rep
Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif said the formation of a new state government was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives prior to the failed Kinabalu Move in January 2023. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A Sabah assemblyman, who was formerly with Warisan, has claimed there was nothing altruistic about the 'Kinabalu Move' – an attempt led by Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Bung Moktar Radin to dislodge Hajiji Noor as chief minister. In a podcast, Norazlinah Arif recalled that Warisan assemblymen were summoned to attend a press conference at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu several days before the failed 'coup'. She said the assemblymen were told that Warisan would be part of a new state government, leaving them in shock, as the matter was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives. At the time, some assemblymen questioned why they should back Bung over Hajiji, Norazlinah said. The Kunak assemblyman claimed that they were then informed that if they backed the Bung-led coup, four or five Warisan leaders would be named to the state Cabinet. 'We knew the four who would be made ministers,' she said, without identifying them. 'That means the move to topple the government had nothing to do with the rakyat. It was about wanting government posts,' she said. Norazlinah, who quit the Shafie Apdal-led party in February 2023, also claimed there were plans for a second coup after the first one failed. In January 2023, Bung, the Sabah Umno chief, announced that the party was withdrawing its support for Hajiji. However, six Umno assemblymen pledged continued support for Hajiji, foiling Bung's plans which had the backing of Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat. Pakatan Harapan and GRS assemblymen also pledged their undivided support for Hajiji, who has been in office since the state election in September 2020. Bung was subsequently dropped as the state's deputy chief minister. Earlier this month, Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan suggested that Sabah BN's pullout from the state government was a needless mistake.
Daily Express
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah PKR glad Hajiji decided to work with PH
Published on: Monday, July 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: 'As a PH leader, I welcome such cooperation. Its good news for Sabah,' Mustapha said. Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah reacted with joy over confirmation of continued cooperation between GRS and PH in the coming State election, describing it as a positive step for the State. Its head Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said it is good news for Sabah and the people. 'I thank our Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor for upholding the spirit of cooperation between GRS and PH. 'As a PH leader, I welcome such cooperation. Its good news for Sabah,' he said. 'The next step is to discuss seat allocation with PGRS in particular. We will sit down with them. Hopefully, we can iron things out and allocate seats accordingly,' he said. It is understood that the coalition is eyeing around 23 to 25 state seats. Earlier, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah said it would continue its political cooperation with Pakatan Harapan. GRS Chairman cum Chief Minister Hajiji said all component parties in GRS had agreed to join forces with PH following discussions. 'We continue the (political) cooperation that stands today between GRS and PH for the coming PRN17,' he said. Hajiji, who is Gagasan Rakyat President, said a formula (on seats distribution) has been worked out between the two ruling coalitions but not yet finalised, as few more things need to be sorted out. The GRS-PH collaboration was born following the last national election when GRS leaders – who were then under Bersatu which was part of Perikatan Nasional – found themselves having to decide whether to be part of the new Federal Unity Government of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, or stay in the opposition led by PN's Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The Bersatu election winners soon went under the new GRS grouping. Hajiji said the move was also in line with the strong support GRS received from PH Sabah during the political crisis commonly referred to as the 'Kinabalu Move' aimed at toppling Hajiji in early 2023. Since then, he said, the GRS-PH collaboration brought political stability and progress to Sabah — benefits that justify preserving the alliance. 'Our deepest thanks go to the PH Sabah leaders,' said Hajiji who is also Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) President. He also emphasized the importance of GRS as a strong coalition of local parties, striving to fulfil the aspirations of Sabahans who want primarily local-based parties to dominate state politics. 'GRS, born from the grassroots aspirations, will continue to promote mature and inclusive politics by embracing diversity, upholding consensus values and prioritising stability and progress for the state,' he said. 'PBS and Star, each with their own strengths and influence, are among the core contributors to the foundation and resilience of our political home GRS. 'It is no exaggeration to say that PBS and Star are not just pillars of strength for GRS, but also our close comrades who are always by our side offering support, insights, and advice, in line with their roles in the GRS-PH government,' he said. He extended the same appreciation to other GRS component parties – Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), United Sabah National Organization (Usno), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS). * 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
New Straits Times
27-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
GRS component parties agree to cooperate with Sabah PH in polls
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties have agreed for the Sabah-based coalition to work with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH). Its chairman, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, responded briefly with "Yes" when asked if coalition members had agreed to the cooperation. "We have discussed it," he said, reaffirming the collaboration with PH after closing the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) annual assembly at the Sabah International Convention Centre here. Earlier in his speech, Hajiji credited the current political stability to the support of Sabah PH leaders during the "Kinabalu Move" in 2023, when his administration was nearly toppled. Despite the cooperation with PH, Hajiji also called on voters to seize the opportunity to back the existing government, to ensure a locally based coalition continues to dominate Sabah's political landscape. Meanwhile, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, speaking on behalf of Sabah PH, thanked Hajiji for upholding the spirit of cooperation. "As a PH leader, I welcome this cooperation. It is good news for the people of Sabah. "We need to sit down and discuss the next steps, especially on seat allocations. Hopefully, it can be ironed out soon," he said, adding that PH is eyeing between 23 and 25 seats. Of the 73 state seats, GRS currently holds 38, while PH holds seven.
![[UPDATED] GRS wants to continue PH ties, but insists on leading role for Sabah polls](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fhajijikekalph_1753588361.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
27-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] GRS wants to continue PH ties, but insists on leading role for Sabah polls
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) wants to maintain its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), but insists that the Sabah-based coalition must lead the alliance to face the upcoming Sabah election. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the continuity in the cooperation is in line with the strong support from Sabah PH when GRS was facing an attempt to topple the state government, known as the Kinabalu Move, in January 2023. "Since then, the strong GRS-PH cooperation, which has clearly brought stability and progress to the state, will continue to be maintained as a genuine partnership, one that is believed to bring many benefits and positive outcomes to the people in Sabah. "Thank you to the Sabah PH leaders from all of us in GRS," the GRS chairman said in his closing speech for the Parti Gagasan Rakyat (Gagasan Rakyat) annual general assembly at the Sabah International Convention Centre here. Present were GRS' party component presidents, including Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), LDP's Datuk Chin Su Phin, United Sabah National Organisation's (USNO) Tan Sri Pandikar Amin, and PCS's Tan Sri Anifah Aman. Sabah PH leaders were Datuk Ewon Benedick (Sabah PH chief and Upko president), Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (Parti Keadilan Rakyat's chairman), Datuk Phoong Jin Tze (Democratic Action Party's chairman), and Lahirul Latigu (Sabah Amanah chairman). Former chief minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan also attended the event. Hajiji, who is also Gagasan Rakyat president, also stressed the importance of GRS as a strong coalition of local parties in fulfilling the aspirations of Sabahans who want to see local parties dominate state politics. "When I attended the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)-Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) event, I felt a burning spirit among party members. Both parties have their strengths and contribute greatly to GRS. "It is no exaggeration to say that PBS and STAR are the backbone of GRS. They are comrades-in-arms, always standing by our side, offering support and wise counsel in their roles as GRS members. "SAPP, USNO, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Party Cinta Sabah (PCS), all these parties play a role in uniting and strengthening us. "Let us continue to strengthen our unity so that local parties may stand as one. Truly, the strength within GRS is the key to winning big in the upcoming election," he said.
