KOTA KINABALU – The political alliance in the peninsula between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) has now put the ruling alliances in Sabah on shaky ground.
State Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said both GRS and BN not only had an electoral pact in the 15th general election, but also formed the Sabah GRS-BN government.
Now GRS chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is being accused of breaking the pact by throwing his support behind PN.
Bung Moktar said GRS has violated its promise to BN to support them in the general election.
The two alliances raked in 14 seats in the general election, with six from GRS, seven from BN, and one from PN.
The sole PN seat is from Beluran.
BN is now discussing an alliance with PH in forming a unity pact that is more representative of the electorate and expects GRS to keep to its promise of being a BN ally.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the largest number of seats with 82 in Saturday’s general election.
In the 73-seat Sabah state assembly, Umno has 14 seats while GRS has 26 seats plus another six appointed assemblymen.
Warisan, which is expected to throw its support behind a BN-PH alliance, has 20 seats in the state assembly.
Observers say it would be untenable for GRS to hold the state without BN’s support.
BN and PH have today already formed two unity state governments in Perak and Pahang.
GRS comprises Bersatu, Sabah STAR, SAPP, PBS and Usno and Bersatu, Sabah Star and SAPP are components of PN.
BN on the other hand comprises Umno and PBRS.
Unlike the peninsula, Sabah has not adopted an anti-hopping law.
When approached at an event this morning, Hajiji kept mum and did not stop to speak to reporters. – The Vibes, November 21, 2022