Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji wants all Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties to put the interests of Sabah and the coalition ahead of party or personal agendas.
He said Sabah’s bargaining power at the Federal level must begin with unity within GRS. It must not be undermined by infighting, jostling for positions and political ego.
“There is no point praising the unity of others if we still quarrel in our own house. Sabah’s strength truly begins with our own strength,” he told the delegates.
The GRS Chairman said the coalition was formed in 2020 on the aspirations of people who wanted local political strength to decide the state’s future, protect their interests and keep the state administration stable.
He said GRS emerged as the largest bloc in the 17th Sabah election last November through the collective contribution of all component parties, leaders and members, not the effort of one party or leader.
“No party is so big that it no longer needs its partners, and no party is so small that its contribution can be ignored. Each has a role,” he said.
He said the interests of GRS must come before those of any component party, while the interests of Sabah must always come before those of GRS, so that the coalition’s struggle remains rooted in the people and the State.
He thanked grassroots members who sacrificed their time, energy and money during campaigning, including using their own vehicles and leaving their families for the party’s cause.
“These are the people who truly form the foundation of GRS’ strength. Those of us on this stage can stand here because many people below and out there helped lift us to this position. So let us never forget them.”He said such members, who are little known and rarely draw media attention, must not be forgotten when victory is achieved.
He said the departure of some parties to go their own way should serve as a lesson for GRS to strengthen unity, make more mature decisions and set aside political ego.
He said the diversity of Sabah’s people and the differing choices of voters must be understood and respected and GRS must continue to strengthen its organisation and cooperation among component parties to keep public confidence.
“The people want a stable government that is not only good at talking but solve problems. We can win with speeches on stage, but lose when it comes to winning the hearts of the people,” he warned.
He said being a local party alone is not enough to earn public trust, as confidence must be built through governance and development that people feel in their daily lives.
Ahead of the next election, he said discussions on candidates and seat distribution would test the loyalty and solidarity of component parties, especially when some must compromise and accept outcomes that fall short of their wishes.
Every leader must distinguish between defending principles and defending ego, and must not use a failure to secure a seat as a reason to sulk, refuse to cooperate or attack fellow partners.
He also advised prospective GRS candidates not to become arrogant after winning, as every victory depends on the support of machinery from various component parties, including those who did not get the chance to contest.
“No GRS candidate wins alone. Behind every victory is the machinery of many parties. Remember, politics is always changing. We may be strong today, but not necessarily tomorrow.” He said relations within GRS must be built on trust and mutual respect, with room given to the younger generation to shoulder responsibility and contribute new ideas, while the experience of senior leaders continues to be valued as guidance.
He also reminded that positions are not permanent and every leader holds a trust for a limited period, so they should not cling to office to the point of forgetting their responsibility to the people.
“That is why we must not love our seats so much that we forget why we were given them,” he said, adding that GRS’ four guiding principles of Sabah First, Sabah United, Sabah Forward and Sabah Prosper must be proven through commitment, action and care for the people, not just slogans.
