Latest news with #SabahElection
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Bung should be the last to talk about loyalty, says Joniston
GRS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said the coalition had never been reliant on Sabah Umno. (Japen pic) PETALING JAYA : Gabungan Rakyat Sabah information chief Joniston Bangkuai today hit back at state Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin for saying it was tough to work with GRS due to its past betrayal. Joniston, who is also the Parti Bersatu Sabah information chief, said Bung was the last person who should be talking about loyalty or sincerity. 'It was Bung who conspired with Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat in January 2023 to topple the (state) government led by chief minister Hajiji Noor. 'Bung wasn't betrayed, he was the one betraying (others). 'Even while sitting in the state Cabinet, he had no respect for his colleagues in the state government led by Hajiji,' he said in a statement. He said during the political crisis, several Umno assemblymen refused to support Bung's move and instead backed Hajiji, as did Pakatan Harapan. 'If anyone needs to reflect, it's Bung. 'Why did your colleagues abandon your 'Kinabalu Move'? 'Why did PH support Hajiji instead of you? The answer is obvious: you didn't have their trust,' he said. Joniston said GRS had never been reliant on Umno and reiterated that the coalition was fully prepared to face the upcoming state election independently. Earlier today, Bung said Sabah Umno would not work with GRS in the upcoming state election and that it would only consider working with the party after the state polls. Citing his party's 'dark and bitter' past with GRS, Bung said they needed to practise caution in working with the coalition again. PH and Barisan Nasional have already announced an alliance for the Sabah polls, which must be held by the end of the year. This prompted GRS to threaten to go solo. GRS and PH are currently allies in Hajiji's state government while BN sits in the opposition in the Sabah legislative assembly. However, PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim had expressed confidence that PH, BN and GRS would be able to agree on an alliance for the state election. Last week, the prime minister said discussions among the three coalitions were ongoing. Despite the negotiations, several Sabah BN and GRS leaders have traded barbs over the past few weeks, including Bung and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffrey Kitingan.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Anwar says Sabah Pakatan to lead state election strategy, federal leaders to play supporting role
KOTA KINABALU, May 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he will leave the Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership in charge of determining the direction and decisions for the upcoming 17th Sabah state election. Anwar, who is also the PH chairman, said the decision to entrust the handling of the state election entirely to Sabah PH was made after taking in their views and the central leadership would only play a supporting role. 'I am here to hear the views from Sabah PH, who will determine the strategic priorities, manifesto, and constituencies under negotiation with partners, whether Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) or Barisan Nasional (BN), before deciding on proposals for seats and candidates. 'The purpose of listening to their views is so that it can be brought to the attention of our partners at the federal level because we have decided to entrust all matters on the state election to Sabah PH,' he said at a press conference after chairing a meeting with Sabah PH leaders here last night. He said that the decision was made to better serve the people of Sabah, who need stronger ties between the state and federal governments. 'I am confident that if we truly want to safeguard the interests of Sabah and its people, the relationship between the state and the federal government must be closer and built on mutual trust, just as we are doing with other states, including our improving relationship with Sarawak. 'This strong relationship is crucial, and that is why I proposed that the people of Sabah consider the importance of building a stronger connection between Sabah and the federal government,' he said. Anwar said that all four component party leaders of Sabah PH would be coming forward, but Sabah PH chairman and Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick will coordinate the efforts. When asked to comment on certain quarters within GRS who have expressed desire to work with PH but were unwilling to work with BN, Anwar said that there was still room for discussion. 'I believe that the door for negotiations has never been closed, we want a stable political system and good relations between state and federal,' he said. Anwar is expected to attend the opening of the state-level Kaamatan festival at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association Building this morning before another event to launch phase one of the Esteel Enterprise.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Talks among GRS, PH, BN ongoing, says Anwar
Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim with other Sabah PH leaders after chairing a meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, tonight. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah are in the midst of negotiations on an electoral pact for the upcoming Sabah state election, says Anwar Ibrahim. The PH chairman said this in Kota Kinabalu tonight after chairing a Sabah PH meeting, Bernama reported. PH and BN have announced an alliance for the 17th Sabah state election, which must be held by the end of the year, while discussions are being held to rope GRS into the pact. GRS initially warned that it would go solo in the state election if PH and BN's alliance was final, insisting that a local party should be the backbone of the Sabah government. Despite ongoing talks, several Sabah BN and GRS leaders have been trading barbs over the past few weeks, including state Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffery Kitingan. Separately, Anwar, who is the prime minister, said ties between the federal and Sabah governments should be further strengthened. He said there needed to be mutual trust between the federal and state administrations for the sake of Sabah and Sabahans.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-Sabah CM ‘disgusted' with parties' fixation on seats instead of issues
Former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee said many Sabahans had no idea about the issues that political parties would champion and fight for if elected. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee has urged political parties to talk about the issues they want to champion instead of the number of seats they want to contest in the upcoming state election. The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president said he was disgusted with reports of parties scrambling for seats, including entities from Peninsular Malaysia, The Borneo Post reported. Yong said Sabahans want to know what the political parties were championing and would fight for if elected to form the next Sabah government. 'So far, Sabahans like myself have no idea what some political parties and leaders are fighting for. They only talk about seats, seats and more seats. 'How about talking about the issues for this coming Sabah election?' he was quoted as saying. Yong took aim at Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in particular, questioning whether the two coalitions would push for Sabah and Sarawak to be allocated 35% of parliamentary seats in the country and other issues as stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 'Everyone, including Malayan parties, have joined the bandwagon of championing MA63 after the 2008 general election when BN for the first time lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority,' he added. SAPP is a component of ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), led by Hajiji Noor. GRS and PH are currently allies in Hajiji's state administration while BN sits in the opposition. However, PH and BN have announced an alliance for the state polls, while talks are ongoing to include GRS in the pact. On Sunday, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar expressed hope that her party would be able to contest a minimum of 13 seats in the upcoming Sabah election. The following day, Sabah DAP deputy chief Chan Foong Hin said the state chapter was eyeing at least 10 seats in the state polls. Sabah Umno had said it hoped to contest 40 seats in the 17th state election. SAPP's fellow GRS component Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku said today that the party was looking to contest 15 seats, while Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah vice-president Masiung Banah said GRS was eyeing 52 seats at least.
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
GRS eyes steady course with Pakatan ahead of Sabah polls, says Hajiji
KOTA KINABALU, May 27 — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) wants to maintain cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), the current state government coalition, said its chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. The Sabah Chief Minister said that the cooperation will be a foundation for determining political alliances for the upcoming 17th State Election. He said the matter had been conveyed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and that the outcome of the discussions regarding election cooperation would be announced soon. 'We want to cooperate. We are maintaining the current GRS-PH have conveyed this to the Prime Minister. As for other matters, we will discuss them,' he told reporters today after launching the jetty and officiating the resumption of the Kota Kinabalu-Labuan passenger ferry service at Kota Kinabalu Port here. Hajiji was asked to comment on the progress of cooperation talks between GRS and other coalitions and parties ahead of the state election. The Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president said that no final decision had been made regarding the state polls as the Sabah State Legislative Assembly has yet to dissolve. 'It is not election time yet. The State Legislative Assembly has not been dissolved. Just be patient and wait; you will be informed in due course,' he added. — Bernama
