KOTA KINABALU: The ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will stick with Sabah Pakatan Harapan as their partner and reject overtures by peninsula-based Bersatu and Pejuang to work with them in the next state election.

GRS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said Sabahans were confident with the GRS-Pakatan partnership in governing the state.

"There is no reason for the local party coalition (GRS) to establish cooperation with other parties based in Peninsular Malaysia," he said Monday (May 6).

Bangkuai was responding to Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who was open to the possibility of Bersatu examining a possible cooperation with GRS in the 16th state election to be held next year.

In a separate event, Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir on Saturday (May 14) said that his party intended to establish cooperation with GRS in the next election.

"GRS is very comfortable with Sabah Pakatan and other friends," he said.

Bangkuai said during the Jan 2023 crisis when Sabah Umno withdrew its support from Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Sabah Pakatan decided to support Hajiji as Chief Minister.

Sabah Pakatan's decision to support Hajiji as Chief Minister was driven by the fear that the momentum of developing Sabah would be disrupted by the unstable political situation due to the actions of certain parties who want to overthrow the government that has already been formed, he said.

Bangkuai said that GRS saw the intention of Bersatu and Pejuang to work with the local coalition as a reflection of their confidence and seriousness with GRS.

"As a coalition of local parties, GRS will always be guided by the views and sentiments of the people of Sabah in making any decision.

"GRS greatly appreciates the positive response and the comfortable feeling of the majority of Sabahans towards the GRS-PH plus government," he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/06/grs-will-stick-with-pakatan-turns-down-bersatu-pejuang-advances