TENSIONS between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Sabah Umno have flared up once more over their fallout 22 months ago.
This was triggered when GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the fallout was due to the decision of one man - Sabah Umno chief and state Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
“What’s unique in Sabah is that it’s Bung Moktar who withdrew from the government, while the rest of Umno remains with the administration,” Hajiji said at a party function on Sunday.
Hajiji was referring to several Umno leaders, including state assemblyman Datuk Shahelmy Yahya, who defied the party’s decision to pull out from GRS last year.
Shahelmy and one other are believed to have been suspended from Umno for their actions.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has extended an olive branch to GRS following the fallout. But it has yet to yield results.
In a response today, Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir refuted Hajiji, saying that the decision to withdraw their support to GRS was made collectively and not by Bung Moktar alone.
“I want to correct Hajiji’s statement – it was not the decision of Bung Moktar alone,” said Suhaimi, who is also the Libaran MP.
This renewed friction comes at a time when Sabah Umno is attempting to form a cooperation with the state Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The aim was to replicate the Federal Madani Government, where both BN and PH are partners.
Sabah politics is known to be distinct and somewhat difficult to navigate due to its confusing political alignment.
Sabah PH however showed little interest in Sabah Umno’s suggestion.
Sabah PH chairman Datuk Seri Christina Liew made it clear that their leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, prefers to operate within the Madani framework.
Political observers suggest that PH is more inclined to collaborate with GRS, excluding Sabah Umno, to maintain the current ruling status quo in the state.
Yet there are growing calls within the GRS eight-party alliance to contest in the upcoming Sabah election next year independently. – October 7, 2024
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