KOTA KINABALU – The political tension involving Umno and parties in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance in the peninsula has no bearing on Sabah as the state’s ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) alliance has sealed a solid understanding among its own component parties.
GRS comprises PN (Sabah Bersatu, Sabah PAS, Sabah Star and SAPP) and Barisan Nasional (Sabah Umno, PBRS, MIC and MCA), with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) accepted as a GRS-friendly entity.
Sabah GRS chairman and state PN chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the alliance remains strongly intact, regardless of the Umno threat to end BN's cooperation with PN.
"We look at the politics in Sabah as Sabah's own politics,” he said, stressing that the state alliance is not easily affected by outside influences.
“We cannot be influenced by the movements of politics elsewhere, especially in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
“This is why we have to react according to the people's mandate and, therefore, why we want to continue to be together to run the affairs of the state.
"No matter what happens in Peninsular Malaysia, we are strongly intact here in Sabah," he told reporters here after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between GRS component parties.
Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state Umno chief, seconded Hajiji's stand, saying the coalition's top priority is to defend the GRS cooperation.
"Actually, our stand is very clear. Apart from that, we have decided to defend the GRS, not just for Umno, but also all of us in BN, because our priority is to help develop Sabah and see Sabah developed further," he said.
Hajiji said the question of whether any party breaks from the pact will not likely arise as they had formed a cooperation before the Sabah elections and now, are still together running the government.
The Sabah chief minister said the GRS MoU is aimed at strengthening the cooperation of the component parties, and discussing future plans and issues as "one big family".
"There is no need for us to have an agreement as this is a political cooperation... I am sure all the political party leaders are responsible men.
"This is not a joint venture to take up projects here and there," he said.
The signatories today were Hajiji (Bersatu), Bung (Umno), Datuk Radin Malleh (PBS), Datuk Ellron Angian (Sabah Star), Arthur Kurup (PBRS), Lu Yuen Thung (Sabah MCA), Peer Mohd Kadir (Sabah MIC), Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) and Aliakabar Gulasan (Sabah PAS).
Following the signing, Hajiji was made chairman of GRS, Bung is now deputy chairman I, Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili deputy chairman II, Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan deputy chairman III, Mohd Razali Razi (Bersatu) is secretary, Ardino Diris (Sabah Star) is assistant secretary, Datuk Seri Md Salleh Said (Umno) is treasurer and Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (PBS) is information chief.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Bersatu), Datuk Mohd Ariffin Hj Mohd Arif (Bersatu), Senator Datuk Yakub Khan (Umno), Datuk Jafry Ariffin (Umno), Radin Malleh (PBS), Datuk Jahid Jahim (PBS), Ellron (Star), Guan Dee Koh Hoi (Star), Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (PBRS), Arthur Joseph Kurup (PBRS), Yong Teck Lee (SAPP), Edward Dagul (SAPP), Lu Yen Tung (MCA), Pamela Yong (MCA), Peer Mohd Kadir (MIC) and Mohd Aminudin Ali (PAS) became GRS commitee members. – The Vibes, January 9, 2021
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