SABAH Umno has released a list of what it deems as failures by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) - a clear signal that their feud goes beyond a simple clash between two leaders.
The relationship between the two parties has often been referred to as a leadership dispute between state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Both men are believed to have fallen out in January last year.
Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir had linked Hajiji to Sabah’s long-standing "legacy issues" when releasing the list of GRS failures.
“Many current cabinet ministers were part of previous Sabah governments, including Chief Minister Hajiji and Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. Isn't this their legacy too?” he asked, referring to their roles as ministers under the Barisan Nasional administration, which ended in 2018.
Hajiji previously served as the Local Government and Housing Minister, while Masidi held the Tourism, Culture, and Environment portfolio. Both were Umno members at the time.
Suhaimi also scrutinised Hajiji’s political stance, particularly his “Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga” (our house, we protect) agenda.
He pointed out that this localist rhetoric, akin to the “Sabah for Sabahans” call, contradicts GRS’s current partnership with national parties such as PKR and DAP.
Hajiji coined the slogan when he took over Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan) in March last year.
While he did not explain its meaning, observers noted that Gagasan's inclusion into GRS signified that it is now a fully Sabah-based alliance.
Suhaimi also noted Hajiji’s recent emphasis on cooperation with national parties in the upcoming state election, which runs counter to the calls of its GRS allies.
He referred to Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and Sabah Star president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, who have called for GRS to contest independently in the next Sabah election.
Suhaimi further criticised the GRS administration for failing to secure Sabah’s constitutional right to 40% of the net revenue collected by Putrajaya from the state, as well as its inability to address Sabah’s high unemployment rate.
Tensions between Sabah Umno and GRS seem to have escalated recently after Umno invited Pakatan Harapan (PH) to replicate the Federal-level partnership in Sabah.
However, Sabah PH has remained non-committal, with observers suggesting they are more inclined to work with GRS, without Umno in the state.
The political ongoing issues at the national level such as the halal certification scandal and Umno’s call for PH to apologise are also not helping Sabah Umno's call for cooperation with PH either.
Suhaimi’s list of GRS’s alleged failures came just days after Hajiji rekindled the 22-month-old rift between Sabah Umno and GRS.
Hajiji had claimed at a GRS meeting recently the fallout was solely Bung Moktar’s decision.
“What’s unique in Sabah is that Bung Moktar withdrew from the government, while the rest of Umno remained with the administration,” a GRS leader was reported saying recently.
Sabah Barisan Nasional withdrew its cooperation with GRS on January 6, 2023, in what was seen as a failed attempt to unseat Hajiji as chief minister.
The effort faltered after several state Umno leaders defied party orders and backed Hajiji, while the opposition Sabah Pakatan Harapan threw its support behind GRS to keep the administration in place.
These leaders now hold several positions in the state cabinet. – October 12, 2024
