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Kota Kinabalu: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) is open to potential political alliances in facing the parliamentary elections if it benefits Sabah and promotes unity, its President, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman and Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, said.

“In politics, we must look at things broadly. If it brings good to the state and unity to the people, why not? Our goal is to unite and develop Sabah,” he said, Sunday.

A special general assembly at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) also approved amendments to its constitution to restructure the party along parliamentary lines that would see its divisions reduced from 74 to 26.

The restructuring meant Gagasan Rakyat will now base its 26 divisions on the 25 parliamentary constituencies in Sabah and one in Labuan, rather than on the 73 Sabah state seats and one Labuan parliamentary seat previously.

The amendments were unanimously endorsed and is seen as part of preparations for the general election.  The new structure would allow the party to streamline its organisation and strengthen its election machinery.

“Our restructuring from 74 divisions to 26 has been approved and will be submitted to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) for endorsement,” Hajiji said.

“It so happens that we will be facing a parliamentary general election, which makes this amendment very timely,” he said.

He said the restructuring in no way erases the contributions, roles, or sacrifices of grassroots members. Instead, it aims to better organise all party machinery for the general election.

“We are also pleased to receive a large number of new members from Warisan in the Keningau division who have joined Gagasan Rakyat to continue the struggle with us,” he said.

Hajiji noted that all motions tabled during the assembly received full backing from delegates, including representatives from the Women, Youth and Beliawanis wings.

He said the party’s leadership had also discussed preparations for the election during its Supreme Council meeting, including refining strategies and consolidating grassroots machinery in line with the new parliamentary-based structure.

“It is timely as we will be facing a parliamentary general election. This restructuring suits our preparations,” he said.