Putrajaya sees GRS as Sabah govt’s dominant party, says Hajiji

GRS chairman Hajiji Noor maintained that the pact with Pakatan Harapan was the right move as their existing alliance had brought much-needed stability.

TUARAN: The federal government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recognises Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as the dominant party in the state administration, says coalition chairman Hajiji Noor.

The chief minister said this meant that there was no such thing as the GRS-led Sabah government being controlled by external parties, especially West Malaysian entities.

Instead, it remained under the leadership of local parties that understood the aspirations of Sabahans, he said.

According to the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president, the close ties between the federal and state governments would come to the fore even more as Anwar visits Tuaran in two days.

“The relationship between the federal and state governments must be close. Most importantly, GRS is the dominant party. The federal government knows this.

“Don’t worry, they will not be taking Sabah from us,” he said at a campaign event in Kiulu here, joined by GRS’s candidate Joniston Bangkuai, the coalition’s information chief.

Hajiji also maintained that forming the GRS-Pakatan Harapan pact was the right move as their existing alliance had brought much-needed stability and investments to Sabah.

He added that political stability was crucial for development in the state.