Kota Kinabalu: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Youth accused Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of creating division at the grassroots level by halting federal allocations for Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK).
GRS Youth chief coordinator Datuk Jonnybone Kurum, who chaired a special preparation meeting Monday, claimed that Zahid, in his role as Umno President, had instead introduced the Federal Village Development Committees (JPKK), appointing individuals aligned with Umno and Warisan.
“These federal appointments only serve to divide the grassroots and disrupt unity at the village level,” Jonnybone said, adding that the GRS-led Sabah Government had continued paying JKKK allowances independently, without relying on federal funding.
“This proves that the GRS government is more responsible and self-reliant,” he stressed.
Jonnybone also highlighted the importance of the coming 17th Sabah state election, calling it the “biggest test” for Sabahans.
“For the first time, Sabah is free from the dominance of national parties that ruled for nearly three decades. Under GRS, we enjoy autonomy, stability, and unprecedented progress,” he said.
He warned that outside forces were attempting to destabilise the state’s political landscape and cautioned that if GRS loses, it could take another 15 to 20 years to reunite local parties under one coalition.
During the meeting, GRS Youth also agreed to appoint Youth coordinators in every parliamentary constituency and finalised plans for the launch of the GRS Youth election machinery.
“We will not allow Sabah to return to the dark era. This is our time — this is Sabah’s time,” Jonnybone declared.
