THE inclusion of Parti Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Sabah Bersatu (UPKO) in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening political stability and cooperation among local parties in advancing Sabah’s development agenda.
Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the GRS Supreme Council’s decision on June 8 to accept UPKO into the coalition represented a positive development for the state’s political landscape.
He said UPKO’s application had been received with an open heart, with its participation expected to further consolidate cooperation among Sabah-based parties.
“UPKO’s application to join GRS was received with an open heart because the move is believed to be capable of strengthening cooperation among local parties.
“In fact, when we received UPKO’s application to join GRS, we viewed it as a positive sign in the development of Sabah’s political landscape and accepted it with an open heart,” he said in his speech at UPKO’s 32nd anniversary celebration and 17th Triennial Delegates Conference in Penampang on Sunday.
Hajiji said greater political stability would enable the state government to devote more attention to improving the people’s welfare, strengthening Sabah’s economy and accelerating infrastructure development.
“With political stability assured, it will certainly be easier for the state government to focus on the people’s development agenda, the prosperity of the state’s economy and infrastructure development in Sabah,” he said.
He also urged UPKO leaders and members to work collectively towards advancing the Sabah First, Sabah United, Sabah Forward and Sabah Prosper visions, while reinforcing unity among all GRS component parties.
Hajiji also expressed his appreciation to UPKO president Datuk Ewon Benedick and the party’s members for their support of his administration in implementing the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 development agenda, which has since been carried forward under SMJ 2.0.
He said Ewon’s appointment as Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport carried significant responsibilities, particularly in ensuring Sabah’s investment, industrial development and entrepreneurship agendas were delivered in line with the objectives of SMJ 2.0.
“I am very confident that, with the strong commitment and cooperation of all parties, from government leadership to the roles and involvement of both the public and private sectors, God willing, the SMJ 2.0 development roadmap can be successfully implemented with excellence,” he said. - August 10, 2026
