GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor sees the leadership transition in Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) as an opportunity to further bolster political cooperation between the two coalitions.
He congratulated Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick on his appointment as Sabah PH chairman, emphasising the importance of collaboration among state parties.
“We hope this will enhance the unity and cooperation between PH and GRS for the benefit of Sabah,” Hajiji said.
The Sabah chief minister dismissed concerns that the leadership change could strain ties as both coalitions prepare for the state election next year.
“We’ve worked with PH leaders before, and this effort will continue,” he said.
Hajiji noted that Sabah PH—comprising Upko, DAP, PKR, and Amanah—plays a vital role in shaping the state’s political landscape.
“Together with GRS, which includes multiple parties, this cooperation is essential for Sabah’s progress,” he added.
Benedick, who is Kadamaian assemblyman, Penampang MP, and the federal Entrepreneurial Development and Cooperative Minister, was elected as Sabah PH chairman on Sunday.
He replaced Datuk Christina Liew, who had held the position since 2017.
This marks the first time the state chairmanship was determined through an election, departing from the previous practice of appointment by Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Hajiji and Benedick have yet to officially meet since the transition.
Both coalitions are also engaged in informal discussions to form an electoral pact for the state election next year.
If the talks succeed, the pact will see a total of 12 parties sharing the 73 state assembly seats up for grabs.
Sabah PH has four component parties, while GRS comprises eight: Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS).
The potential alliance excludes Barisan Nasional (BN) due the fall out of its leader Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Hajiji.
Sabah PH has promised to keep communication channels open with BN for the state election but has not made any formal talks for a pact.
BN and GRS have a complicated relationship and therefore made it difficult to form a BN-GRS-PH political cooperation in the state. – December 3, 2024
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