BEAUFORT: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice-President Datuk Ruslan Muharam has dismissed suggestions that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will be “played out” by Pakatan Harapan (PH) if the two work together in the coming 17th State Election (PRN17).
The Lumadan Assemblyman said while PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) cooperate at the federal level, in Sabah the sincerity of PH towards GRS has already been demonstrated through the GRS-PH Plus government.
He noted that PH could have acted differently during the “Langkah Kinabalu” episode but, instead, chose to support the administration of Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor rather than side with Umno at the time.
“Without PH, the GRS government would have collapsed during ‘Langkah Kinabalu’, but support from PH’s seven seats then saved the GRS administration and subsequently created the GRS-PH Plus government.
“It is this sincerity from PH that forms the foundation and strength for GRS to continue its cooperation with PH in PRN17. Therefore, any suggestion that PH will play out GRS is highly unlikely.
“Of course, there will be various political perceptions surfacing now, but in my view they merely add colour to Sabah’s political arena as PRN17 approaches,” he said when met at the Semarak Merdeka 2025 Zon Gadong event, here, Saturday.
Ruslan was responding to views from some political observers who believe PH may not remain neutral should there be a contest between GRS and BN candidates in any constituency during PRN17.
Most observers agree that PH is more likely to back BN candidates rather than GRS, following the seat allocation negotiations between PH and BN that have already been finalised, while discussions between GRS and PH Sabah remain ongoing.
Earlier, Hajiji, who is also GRS Chairman, had announced his intention to continue working with PH Sabah for PRN17 while rejecting BN in the wake of the earlier “Langkah Kinabalu” attempt.
Ruslan, who also heads the PBS Lumadan Division, said the cooperation between GRS and PH has yet to be finalised, with talks between both sides still in progress.
It was learnt, he said, conflicts over seat distribution remain, requiring further negotiation to ensure a “win-win” outcome for both coalitions.
“Whatever it is, we leave it to the wisdom of the GRS leadership to decide, and I believe a conclusion will be reached soon once all issues are ironed out,” he said.
The Lumadan Assemblyman said while PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) cooperate at the federal level, in Sabah the sincerity of PH towards GRS has already been demonstrated through the GRS-PH Plus government.
He noted that PH could have acted differently during the “Langkah Kinabalu” episode but, instead, chose to support the administration of Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor rather than side with Umno at the time.
“Without PH, the GRS government would have collapsed during ‘Langkah Kinabalu’, but support from PH’s seven seats then saved the GRS administration and subsequently created the GRS-PH Plus government.
“It is this sincerity from PH that forms the foundation and strength for GRS to continue its cooperation with PH in PRN17. Therefore, any suggestion that PH will play out GRS is highly unlikely.
“Of course, there will be various political perceptions surfacing now, but in my view they merely add colour to Sabah’s political arena as PRN17 approaches,” he said when met at the Semarak Merdeka 2025 Zon Gadong event, here, Saturday.
Ruslan was responding to views from some political observers who believe PH may not remain neutral should there be a contest between GRS and BN candidates in any constituency during PRN17.
Most observers agree that PH is more likely to back BN candidates rather than GRS, following the seat allocation negotiations between PH and BN that have already been finalised, while discussions between GRS and PH Sabah remain ongoing.
Earlier, Hajiji, who is also GRS Chairman, had announced his intention to continue working with PH Sabah for PRN17 while rejecting BN in the wake of the earlier “Langkah Kinabalu” attempt.
Ruslan, who also heads the PBS Lumadan Division, said the cooperation between GRS and PH has yet to be finalised, with talks between both sides still in progress.
It was learnt, he said, conflicts over seat distribution remain, requiring further negotiation to ensure a “win-win” outcome for both coalitions.
“Whatever it is, we leave it to the wisdom of the GRS leadership to decide, and I believe a conclusion will be reached soon once all issues are ironed out,” he said.