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‘HAS been waiting for this day for a long time. No much difference than waiting for 10 months to give birth”. This was how a female Chinese reporter in Kota Kinabalu described the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Monday (6.10.2025). The reporter was at the Press Conference at the CMD.

“The durian finally falls” was how another reporter described the announcement by Hajiji, Chairman of the State ruling coalition GRS. Yes, as Sabahans would say “Tunggu durian jatuh” (Waiting for the durian to fall”.)

People say that waiting is an agony. I understand that the announcement was supposed to have been made soon after the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16. 

But it was delayed because of the floods and landslides which claimed some lives.

Answering reporters’ questions, Hajiji had then said that the immediate task was not the dissolution but helping the victims. 

Which he did, going round the affected areas and consoling the victims, including a man who lost his wife and daughter due to landslide.

The man asked for permission to hug him. Touching moment and Hajiji was himself red-eyed.

That was in September. Then came October. Some expected Hajiji to announce the dissolution only after PM Anwar tabled the National Budget 2026 on October 10 (Double 10). 

As Anwar himself has hinted, there will be some good news for Sabah. Any good news would be good for Sabah’s ruling party.

But Hajiji didn’t wait for that. Analysts pointed out that it shows Hajiji’s confidence on GRS+ being returned to power. 

Also, this is to avoid accusations that Sabah has to depend on KL for everything. Sometimes, ‘Good News’ can work both ways.

Hajiji’s announcement came just a day or two after Star and SAPP’s statements that they were quitting GRS, reducing the coalition’s number to Six.

Their departure didn’t seem to bother or make Hajiji panciky. At the press conference, he took it as a matter-of-factly. There is a saying that “Nobody is indispensable”. 

Star and SAPP’s departure came after they failed to convince GRS to go solo instead of teaming up with PH, especially PKR and DAP.

About a couple of months ago, Hajiji officiated at the first PNS-Star Joint-Congress at the KDCA. 

The hall was filled with PBS supporters dressed in white and Star members dressed in blue.

As Hajiji was making his way to the stage to deliver his speech. The hall was filled with defeaning shouts of “Solo, Solo, Solo”, meaning they hoped that Hajiji in his speech would agree or announce to GRS going solo.

Now, looking back, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who was the mastermind behind the shouts of “Solo, Solo, Solo”. Hajiji did not touch on the Solo thing.

Hajiji is a veteran and experienced leader. He knows what he is doing. He is not a push-over who was born only yesterday.

I don’t expect Hajiji to forget the fact that PH saved him from losing his Chief Ministership three years ago. Without PKR, DAP and Upko, he would not have survived the coup then. 

So how can Hajiji be so forgetful and ungrateful? If, for argument’s sake, PH wants to go it alone or don’t want to team up with GRS anymore, what to do lah.

You don’t simply dump somebody or something after tasting the sweetness or honey, just like the bee.

I mean, PH could have sided with Umno and Warisan in 2013 and it would be goodbye for Hajiji. 

But they chose Hajiji. So the least Hajiji could do now is to repay the kindness. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, as the saying goes.

Those who have been shouting “solo” should not forget this fact. Why for the past three years when PH ensured that you are the government and make you Minister you never say “solo”?

Also for argument’s sake, if the PH-GRS combination loses the election, so be it. It’s God’s will. 

Hajiji is a man of principle. He will retire gracefully, with no guilty conscience.

Star and SAPP’s quitting GRS is not the end of the story. 

You see, Star and PBS had a MOU on cooperation. How binding is that I don’t know. 

Actually, the PBS supreme council chaired by Acting President Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam had last month decided to stay put with GRS. 

But that was before Dr Jeffrey announced that Star was quitting GRS.

At the Press Conference during which Hajiji announced the dissolution, Dr Joachim was sitting next to him. Dr Jeffrey was absent.

Then the day after that, Dr Joachim also attended a GRS supreme council meeting chaired by Hajij. Star and SAPP had left GRS by then.

It is an open secret that some or at least a few PBS supreme councilors were unhappy or undecided whether PBS should follow Jeffrey’s footsteps. 

It was not too late as the election dates had yet to be announced.

A few PBS leaders including supreme councilors even met party founder and advisor Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, seeking his views and probably hoping that he could talk to Dr Joachim.

I don’t know whether the Huguan Siou talked to Dr Joachim. He probably did. That put Dr Joachim under pressure, I assume. 

Coincidentally, the PBS Political Bureau held its meeting on Thursday. It cannot be avoided that the issue of Star leaving GRS was discussed and whether PBS should follow suit.

To cut the long story short, the meeting did not pass any resolution saying that PBS should follow the footstep of Star. In other words, PBS is to remain in GRS.

That was not the only thing discussed at the meeting. 

It also decided that PBS divisions in constituencies of the five Star Assemblymen who decided to continue supporting GRS should help them in the coming election.

That the meeting did not decide to follow Dr Jeffrey’s footstep is good for Dr Joachim. 

It shows that Joachim is in control and he can continue to lead the party. It also shows that he is a not a Yes Man.

By the way, a little bird on the tree told me that Dr Maximus is with Dr Joachim as far as the issue of leaving GRS or not is concerned. 

PBS secretary-general Datuk Julita Mojungki is Dr Max’s protégé.

Coming back to GRS. Hajiji met the coalition’s supreme council on Tuesday, a day after the dissolution. 

Then on Wednesday he met his own PGRS divisional chiefs. Then on Thursday evening the representatives of PH component parties.

Leading the PH side is PKR secretary-general cum Home Minister, a post seen as most powerful after the PM and Finance Minister. 

After this series of meetings, the allocation of seats among them would have been finalized.

However, I don’t expect the details to be announced any time soon. This is strategy.

The Election Commission will meet on Oct 16 to decide on the dates for Nomination and Polling. 

Then on Oct 19, GRS or at least PGRS will launch their election machinery. 

I expect GRS to announce their seats distribution including those for PH only after the Nomination date is known. Then normally a few days before Nomination the candidates will be announced. 

This is perhaps the first time in the political history of Sabah that a party is involved in two separate coalitions. 

PH is a partner of both GRS and BN. Someone said this is just like a man with two wives, with PH being the husband.

How this is going to work out, I don’t know. As people say, leave politics to the politicians. I am enjoying my retirement, spending quality time with my grandchildren.

However, confusion is bound to arise. PH is having the best of both worlds. A friend said “Put your money on PH, you can’t lose….”

Meaning, PH can have two quotas. One is quota with GRS and the other quota with BN. Whatever it is, in areas where PH contest, it won’t be disturbed by either GRS nor BN. 

They only have to worry about contest from Warisan and PKDM. And now plus Star and SAPP and some smaller or new parties.

Talking about confusion and the best of both worlds, for example, in Tamparuli I heard Upko adviser and Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Madius Tangau is going for it. 

But that area is being represented by PBS, a GRS component since years ago. Does it mean that Upko will replace PBS or friendly contest”

Similarly, in Moyog I heard former Penampang MP Datuk Donald Mojuntin will also go for it. But that area is expected to be given to GRS or PBS. Does this mean that Upko will fight GRS? 

Before 2018, Moyog had been represented by PBS. Confusing indeed. Another friendly contest, with Upko using PH-BN quota?

One good guess is in areas where Upko will fight among others GRS, their excuse may be that they are using the PH-BN quota, nothing to do with the PH-GRS quota. 

That why’s I say confusing. The voters will be even more confused. Who’s friend and who’s enemy? 

Who is the first wive and who is the second? Anyway, let them sort it out. None of my business,

There are a few more weeks to go before election and plenty more opportunity to write, including my constituency-by-constituency analysis after Nomination. 

So for today I will end here. Enjoy your weekend. 

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my