Kota Kinabalu: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) wants to strengthen the coalition so as to win more parliamentary seats and ensure a stronger Sabah voice at the Federal level.
GRS Sec-Gen Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the formal entry of United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) into the coalition would further strengthen GRS as a platform for Sabah-based political parties.
“Surely, Upko’s official presence in GRS will further strengthen GRS as a platform for local political parties.
“Not only in terms of political strength but also in terms of Sabah’s voice within the Federation,” he said, after the GRS Supreme Council meeting, chaired by Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Tuesday.
The meeting was the first attended by Upko following the party’s official entry into GRS.
Armizan said one of the main matters discussed was the 2026 GRS Convention, scheduled to be held at Dewan Tun Mustafa in Kudat on Sunday (Oct 18), with an estimated 2,500 participants from the six coalition parties.
He said the convention would focus on two main areas, namely GRS’ political direction and planning, as well as giving meaning to the coalition’s manifesto.
“We will discuss GRS’ achievements over the past five years and also the period of almost one year since we received the people’s mandate in the last State Election.
“Next, we will provide an opportunity for our Ministers to present the direction of their respective ministries so that their plans are not only understood but also receive feedback from the grassroots GRS leadership attending the convention,” he said.
Armizan said the convention would adopt a “two-pronged” approach, focusing not only on the political agenda but also on the State’s development agenda and the interests of the people as a whole.
He said Kudat was chosen as the venue to introduce a new approach by GRS to move its convention beyond Kota Kinabalu.
“Starting this year, the GRS convention will not only be centred in Kota Kinabalu. We will rotate it according to zones and Kudat has been chosen as this year’s host,” he said.
He said GRS leaders and State Cabinet Ministers would also hold various programmes with the people in Kudat and Banggi Island in conjunction with the convention.
Armizan said based on the last State Election, GRS could win about 14 to 15 parliamentary seats, excluding Upko’s entry.
Sabah has 25 parliamentary seats.
“If these 25 parliamentary seats are filled by representatives who are divided and cannot speak with one voice, it will mean that Sabah’s voice will not be as strong and solid.
“So, we want Sabah’s 25 parliamentary seats to be represented by GRS and MPs who can work together to carry Sabah’s aspirations in the interests of the State.
Given the current political landscape in Malaysia, this demands strength from us,” he said.
GRS contested 13 parliamentary seats in Sabah in the 15th General Election in November 2022 and won six seats, namely P.175 Papar by Armizan; P.178 Sipitang (Datuk Matbali Musah); P.179 Ranau (Datuk Jonathan Yasin); P.180 Keningau (Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan); P.185 Batu Sapi (Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan); and P.190 Tawau (Datuk Lo Su Fui).
