GRS discussions only involved top leaderships, claims Umno Sabah Youth Chief

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah Umno youth chief, Abdul Aziz Julkarnain claimed that he was not invited to any meetings or discussions regarding Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

He further claimed that the GRS discussion was held for the top leaderships or only for certain groups but the party wing leaders are not invited.

“As Sabah Umno Youth Chief, I have never been called to any GRS meeting or discussion. So, how am I supposed to explain this to the Sabah Umno Youth movement and the branches?

“Same goes with Wanita, Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Srikandi, so how can GRS introduce its brand?," he said when contacted, on Thursday.

He said this when asked to comment on the announcement by GRS Chairman, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor that the coalition had been officially registered last week.

He, however, did not deny that the coalition brought benefits and it was formed to protect Sabah in the last state election.

“I strongly agree with GRS, from the beginning of the media statement I said GRS is the mandate of the people and it should be defended.

"We see that there is a need for cooperation under GRS which comprises Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) which is our goal.

"However, when GRS is strengthened, I made a rebuke to the leadership in GRS saying if we want to strengthen this coalition, we must involve all parties from old, young and the wings," he said.

In this regard, Abdul Aziz called on the top leadership of GRS to involve all party level leaders in the coalition.

“Once we are serious about making it a registered political entity, we have to professionally structure its organizational structure so that we are clear with the role of the wing to implement it.

“Whatever it is, we should not only involve the top ‘leaders’, but also the ones below them,” he said.