[UPDATED] GRS confirms joining Anwar’s unity govt

PUTRAJAYA – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has officially confirmed its participation in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

The newly sworn-in prime minister said Sabah chief minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor conveyed his stand today.

“With this, we have (the support of) two-thirds of MPs that will ensure better political stability,” Anwar said at a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office today after clocking in for his first day on the job.

“This will strengthen our work as a government to improve the economy and help the people,” Anwar added.

Anwar’s government currently comprises Pakatan Harapan, which won 82 seats in the 15th general election, Barisan Nasional (30), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (23), GRS (six), and Warisan (three).

Smaller parties Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) and Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), with one MP each, also support PH, while two independents are also likely to go along with being government-friendly. This gives Anwar’s government 148, or two-thirds of Dewan Rakyat members.

The bloc with the second-largest number of seats, Perikatan Nasional (73), had also been told by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to join in the formation of unity government, but initially rejected – only to make a U-turn yesterday by expressing willingness to work with “like-minded parties”.

However, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is still insisting that the coalition, which comprises Bersatu and PAS as its key parties, was the first to have the numbers to form the government. He claimed this is based on 115 statutory declarations signed by MPs supporting him as prime minister.

Anwar, in his first press conference as prime minister last night after taking his oath of office, invited PN to join his unity government. 

Earlier today, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the party thanked Anwar for the invitation and said PAS would discuss the matter with PN first. – The Vibes, November 25, 2022