KOTA BELUD: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said local parties must be dominant in Sabah politics and prioritised when forming alliances for the coming 17th state election.
He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government, which is formed by local parties, must be defended and continued in the coming election.
“We want to continue this government, and that is why this election is important. We must not make the wrong choice. Local parties must be dominant in Sabah’s political landscape and must be prioritised,” he said at the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) annual congress, here, Sunday.
Hajiji said any discussions on cooperation with other parties should not come at the expense of local leadership.
“Cooperation is another matter, but GRS as a local coalition must be defended. This aligns with the sentiment of the people on the ground who want local parties to lead the Government.
“As GRS chairman, I will ensure this,” he said.
Hajiji said he would not hand over the rights and struggle of GRS to those with ill intentions.
“I will not easily surrender what GRS stands for to those trying to undermine the coalition,” he said.
He urged leaders and members of all GRS component parties, including Usno, to go to the ground and engage with the public on the coalition’s “Our Home, We Protect” and “Sabah First” philosophies.
Other component parties include Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party, Parti Cinta Sabah, Liberal Demokratik Sabah and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah.
“This is our mission. When we say, ‘Our Home, We Protect’, it should be understood clearly. We shouldn’t have to explain bit by bit. It’s simple, we take care of our own,” he said.
On Saturday, Sabah PKR Chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said official negotiations with GRS were set to begin ahead of the state election, following approval from the PKR and PH central leadership.
However, GRS Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the coalition should “honour” Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin’s call for it to contest against BN in the polls before discussions on any possible cooperation.
He said such a contest would eliminate any accusations that victory depends solely on the strength of particular parties within coalitions.
“I agree with Bung that GRS and BN should face off in the coming state election. By leaving it to the people, whoever wins will no longer face accusations that Party A won because of Party B’s strength, and there will be no more allegations of betrayal,” said Armizan.
