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KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, who is also GRS chairman, has shown political maturity by indicating that the coalition is prepared to give way to Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Lamag state and Kinabatangan parliamentary by-elections, said GRS senior leader Datuk John Ambrose (pic).

John said Hajiji’s stance reflected a deliberate effort to safeguard unity and stability within the Sabah government rather than pursue short-term political advantage.

“This is a wise decision by Hajiji,” John said, adding that it demonstrated respect for past electoral outcomes and prioritised camaraderie among parties forming the state government.

He said GRS’s inclination not to field candidates in Lamag and Kinabatangan signalled sincerity in strengthening cooperation with BN, which previously won both constituencies.

John, who is also a GRS Supreme Council member, said Hajiji’s leadership approach was grounded in long-term political stability, describing him as “the kind of leader that Sabah needs.”

“He knows that when Sabah is politically stable, everything else will fall into place,” John said, adding that economic growth and investor confidence depended on a stable political environment.

Hajiji had said on Tuesday that GRS was likely to sit out both by-elections out of respect for BN, stressing that while discussions were ongoing, the coalition was prepared in principle to support BN’s candidates.

He said talks would also be held with BN chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to finalise the matter ahead of the polls.

The by-elections were called following the death of the incumbent, the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, with the Election Commission (EC) fixing polling day on Jan 24, nomination day on Jan 10 and early voting on Jan 20.

Commenting on the Sabah Budget 2026, John said its people-centric focus, including increased Rumah Mesra SMJ quotas and entrepreneurship allocations, showed that Hajiji understood “the human side of things” and knew that “without unity and stability, nothing can work.”