PARTI Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) has decided to withdraw support for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government.
KDM president Priscella Peter said the decision was made after considering the party's interests and efforts to regain the people's trust at the grassroots level.
She said the decision was not an easy one, but needed to be made to ensure that KDM had a clear direction and was not only seen as active during the election season.
"What is important is that in preparation for the PRN and GE, the party's Supreme Council has decided to move forward without being in the GRS government.
"This decision is very difficult, but what is important for us is to show the people and members at the grassroots that we have a clear direction for them," she said today.
Commenting on the position of KDM leaders who hold positions in agencies or government-linked companies (GLCs), Priscella said the party will comply with the protocol set following the decision to withdraw support from the GRS government.
"We will follow the protocol set later, then we will see. But if we withdraw support from the government, if the protocol states that we have to step down, then that is what will happen,” he said.
Priscella said the decision was made collectively and not individually, besides taking into account the interests of the party and future generations.
“As a party, we may be small, but I think this is the best move for us to face the next GE for the sake of change in Sabah,” she said.
According to Priscella, the developments that occurred after the last election affected the party and were among the considerations in the decision to move outside the GRS government.
She said KDM needs to start rebuilding the people’s confidence before the next election and not just take action when Parliament or the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is dissolved.
Meanwhile, Priscella said that KDM will not contest solo in the upcoming GE, but is open to working with local parties in an effort to form a political bloc based on Sabah's interests.
She said that discussions with several local parties, including Parti Warisan (WARISAN) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), have been held informally, but there has been no final decision on it.
"We are friends (with other parties), and we have discussed, but the final decision has not been announced yet. We have not started official discussions yet. So far, it has only been a casual discussion over coffee," she said. – August 15, 2026
