KUDAT: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has reminded all Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties to place state and coalition interests above partisan or personal agendas to safeguard Sabah's political strength.
Speaking at the GRS Convention 2026 at Tun Mustapha Hall on Sunday, Hajiji said Sabah's bargaining power at the Federal level relies on internal unity rather than infighting, power struggles, and political egos.
The GRS Chairman stressed that coalition interests must supersede component party interests, while the interests of Sabah must always take precedence over GRS itself.
He noted that GRS’s success in emerging as the largest bloc in the 17th Sabah State Election in November last year was not the achievement of any single entity, as no party is too large to stand alone or too small to be disregarded.
Hajiji also expressed gratitude to grassroots members who sacrificed personal resources, time, and family commitments to campaign, describing them as the backbone of the coalition who must not be forgotten in victory.
Ahead of future polls, he warned that negotiations over candidate selection and seat allocations will test internal solidarity, urging leaders to differentiate between standing on principle and defending personal egos if decisions do not favour them.
Hajiji added that the coalition's four core principles—Sabah First, Sabah United, Sabah Forward, and Sabah Prosper—must be translated into tangible administrative results and service to the people rather than remaining mere slogans.
