National political party presence in GRS according to coalition’s core, principles

KOTA KINABALU – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor firmly states that the commitment toward the presence of national political party components in the coalition is subject to the party’s agenda, core and principles.

The Sabah Bersatu chief said the grassroots wanted the parties to unite in local platforms to be the driving force protecting the rights and importance of the people on the local and national scene.

"As a local formula, I want to repeat that the commitment towards the presence of national party components in the GRS, including my presence as GRS Chairman are subject to the agenda, core and principles of GRS.

“The commitment will be preserved with provisions of law for the parties to ensure GRS leadership will be decided through local consensus that is in the agreement of GRS component parties," he said.

Hajiji said this in a speech during the officiation of the 36th and 37th Annual Representative Conference at Dewan Hakka, Likas, here on Friday.

Also present were PBS President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, his deputy Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Datuk Jahid Jahim along with PBS Advisor Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

The chief minister also said to let the political parties in Sabah to decide on GRS's leadership that was established through the 16th State Elections (SE16) previously.

"We will decide for ourselves the line of leaders of GRS based on the party’s constitution.

"GRS members must hold true to the agenda, core and principles of the GRS constitution while upholding the nobility of state and Federal Constitutions.," he said.

PBS is among the five parties in the coalition. Other parties are Bersatu, State Reform Party (STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and United Sabah National Organisation (USNO).