Kota Kinabalu: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah Star), the third largest component of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), has pulled out of the coalition over its plan to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH), The Star reported.
Sabah Star president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan (pic) confirmed he informed the GRS presidential council on Wednesday night that his party would no longer remain in the state coalition.
“I attended the meeting and told them Star was leaving,” he said, adding that an official announcement would be made later today.
Another partner, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by former chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, is also expected to follow suit after the meeting endorsed the electoral pact with PH.
The GRS leadership, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, met over dinner at Sri Gaya on Wednesday to discuss the pact, with each of the eight party presidents given a chance to speak.
According to sources, Hajiji, who also heads Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, together with Usno, PBS, PCS, LDP and Parti Harapan Rakyat leaders, backed the deal despite some preferring GRS to contest alone.
Jeffrey and Yong, however, argued that GRS should go solo and only leave PH with its existing seven seats, while Hajiji indicated the state coalition was prepared to give PH 18 seats in the ongoing negotiations.