KOTA KINABALU – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will have its big launch tomorrow, but the top leader of Barisan Nasional – which is part of the state government led by the alliance – says he will not be attending the special occasion.
Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is Sabah BN chairman and state Umno chief, said he will be engaged in ministerial duties on the same day. He said that he does not need to attend, as BN is not part of GRS.
GRS will be launched at the Sabah International Convention Centre here at 10am tomorrow with leaders and members from components, as well as other allies in the form of friendly parties and individuals expected to attend the big occasion.
“I will not be attending the GRS launch, because we are not part of GRS,” said Bung, who is a deputy chief minister and state works minister in the Sabah government.
“Secondly, I have the groundbreaking ceremony (tomorrow), which is a very important event for me.
“I think the matter of GRS should be dealt with by them and we deal with our matters,” he told reporters here after attending the launch of the construction of the Sabah Ports Board office here today.
Bung Moktar said he is not concerned over the negative perception arising from his absence at tomorrow’s launch, saying “perceptions” will always be around whether he attends or not.
But it is uncommon for top leaders in Sabah not to be present in such big events, especially involving friendly political associates.
The local political circles have an indigenous term for showing up at friendly events called the “pisompuruan”, which refers to an effort to foster unity among the leaders.
Political observers may see Bung Moktar’s actions as his way of distancing himself from Sabah Bersatu, which is a major component party in GRS.
There’s no longer cooperation between Umno and Bersatu at the federal level and many believe the same will happen eventually in Sabah.
Bung, who is also Kinabatangan MP, has constantly defended BN’s cooperation with GRS in spite of Bersatu’s presence in the Sabah alliance.
Bersatu in Sabah is led by the chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor – also a former Umno leader – who now holds the post of chairman in GRS.
Questions have remained in the ruling GRS government as to whether Umno, as lead party in BN, will honour its cooperation pact signed in January 2020.
Sabah Bersatu leaders have asserted that the relationship between the party and BN must remain intact via GRS’ cooperation with BN to avoid further disruptions in the state.
Bung had previously said that he was in the process of consulting with his party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on the possible cooperation in the state.
In late March, he suggested that the state government’s administration should be called GRS-BN instead of GRS, which would be unfair to BN, which is part of the ruling coalition.
Hajiji then said he has no issue with the new name suggested. – The Vibes, May 27, 2022
