Gabungan Rakyat Sabah unanimously agrees to accept UPKO as its newest member, strengthening the coalition’s position in the state government.
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) today unanimously agreed to accept the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) as its newest component party with immediate effect.
GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the decision was reached during the GRS Supreme Council meeting, as UPKO’s application was in line with the coalition’s objective of strengthening the alliance and reinforcing the position of local parties within the Sabah state government.
“The admission of UPKO is in line with GRS’ struggle under the principles of ‘Sabah United’ and ‘Sabah First’, aimed at strengthening local parties while ensuring political stability at the state level,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting here today.
Also present were GRS deputy chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, GRS secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, acting Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Tan Sri Anifah Aman, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Chin Su Phin and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS) president Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah.
UPKO officially submitted its application to join GRS on May 29, with its president, Datuk Ewon Benedick, handing over the application to Hajiji.
UPKO’s entry brings the number of GRS component parties to six, namely Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), PBS, LDP, PHRS, PCS and UPKO.
Meanwhile, Hajiji, who is also Sabah Chief Minister, said the meeting discussed early preparations for the next General Election through efforts to streamline party machinery across all parliamentary constituencies in the state.
To that end, he said GRS had appointed all component party presidents to lead six zones tasked with conducting inspections and monitoring preparedness reports from divisions within their respective areas.
Hajiji, who is also PGRS president, will head Zone One covering Kudat, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud and Tuaran, while Masidi has been appointed chairman of Zone Two comprising Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan.
Zone Three, encompassing Papar, Kimanis, Beaufort and Sipitang, will be led by Anifah, while PBS acting president Joachim will chair Zone Four, covering Ranau, Keningau, Pensiangan and Tenom.
Chin will head Zone Five, comprising Sandakan, Batu Sapi, Libaran, Beluran and Kinabatangan, while Zone Six, covering Tawau, Kalabakan, Lahad Datu and Semporna, will be led by Liew.
“Although the current parliamentary term will only expire at the end of next year, we in Sabah must be prepared early,” he said, adding that GRS intends to field candidates in all 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah as well as in Labuan.
