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GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has stated its intention to maintain political cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election (PRN17), provided that GRS is allowed to lead the coalition.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the condition reflects the trust and support PH had given GRS during the political upheaval known as the ‘Kinabalu Move’ in January 2023, which attempted to destabilise the state government.
“In the Kinabalu Move of January 2023, GRS was able to continue leading the state government thanks to the strong support from Pakatan Harapan. Since then, the solid GRS-PH cooperation has delivered stability and progress for Sabah,” Hajiji said in his keynote address at the Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Annual General Assembly, held at the Sabah International Convention Centre today.
He added, “This cooperation is genuine, and we believe it can continue to benefit the people of Sabah. Our heartfelt thanks go to the PH Sabah leadership from GRS.”
However, Hajiji’s remarks come amid questions over the future of the GRS-PH alliance. PH is currently engaged in parallel negotiations with Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah, which has publicly rejected any cooperation with GRS.
Hajiji, who is also GRS Chairman and President of Gagasan Rakyat, said discussions had taken place with PH at various levels—including with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as PH Chairman—and a final decision is still pending.
At the same time, BN Sabah has disclosed that it has already finalised seat allocations with PH for PRN17, without involving GRS.
Underscoring GRS’s identity as a coalition of Sabah-based parties, Hajiji stressed that local leadership is essential for meeting the aspirations of Sabahans.
“Our strength in GRS is a prerequisite for success in the coming election. More importantly, this unity and strength ensure that locally based parties remain at the helm of the Sabah government now and, God willing, for decades to come,” he said.
He also praised the role of key GRS component parties such as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), highlighting their influence and grassroots support.
“PBS and STAR are not only pillars of GRS but also trusted partners who continue to offer support, perspective and counsel in the governance of Sabah under the GRS-PH administration,” Hajiji said.
Other GRS component parties including the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), Sabah People's Hope Party (PHRS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) were also acknowledged for their contributions to strengthening the coalition.
“All these parties play an important role in unifying and fortifying GRS as Sabah’s largest local political coalition,” he added. - July 27, 2025