GRS-PH cooperation must continue
Published on: Sunday, February 18, 2024
By: Bernama
Armizan (left) stressed that the formation of a government should not be based on “trend” factors or coercion but through consensus and mutual trust. Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) hopes to stand in Chinese seats in the next state elections if it is allowed by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leadership. Its President Datuk Chin Su Phin (right)said the party would be asking for seats to contest in.
Kota Kinabalu: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali wants the existing unity between the coalition and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to continue in the next state elections.
The Papar MP said although the top leadership of GRS has not yet discussed any collaboration formula for the polls, he has his views on the matter.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Sabah and Sarawak have their own formulas, where, in essence, the current State Government in Sabah is a Unity Government with its own framework involving the GRS-PH Plus coalition,” he said in a statement during the launch of the GRS Women’s Tour in Kota Marudu, Saturday.
Armizan, who is also Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Minister, said the composition of the Sabah Government today, namely GRS-PH Plus, was formed after the establishment of the Unity Government at the federal level.
“This is the Unity Government formula in Sabah. In addition to GRS assemblymen, all PH assemblymen and some from other parties decided to support Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to remain as the Chief Minister of Sabah, and GRS greatly appreciates their support and solidarity,” he said.
He stressed that the formation of a government should not be based on “trend” factors or coercion but through consensus and mutual trust.
ADVERTISEMENT
“On the part of GRS, we also want to avoid the risk of history repeating itself. When the elections come, we want to form a stable government through consensus.
“Not only does GRS need to trust our partners, but the other parties also need to be comfortable and confident with us,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) hopes to stand in Chinese seats in the next state elections if it is allowed by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leadership.
Its President Datuk Chin Su Phin said the party would be asking for seats to contest in.
“Of course, we want to ask for seats, but we cannot decide on how many we want because that is up to GRS President Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor,” he said after the LDP Chinese New Year luncheon gathering, here, Saturday.
He said what mattered more at present was the unity within the GRS.
“We have good working relations with all GRS component parties. Although we have not talked about seat arrangements and allocations, LDP wishes to contest in Chinese and urban seats,” said Chin.
“But that’s the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister (Hajiji) to decide,” he added.
Chin said GRS champions local-based parties, and LDP hoped to see Sabah become a strong local government like Sarawak.
Earlier during the luncheon, Chin said this is their first big celebration after returning from the opposition front and being a member of GRS early last year.
He mentioned the need to foster closer relations with friends, family, work comrades and political allies.
LDP was one of the eight Barisan Nasional component parties in Sabah, but it pulled out from the coalition after its defeat in GE14 in 2018.
LDP lost in all the five seats – one parliamentary and four state – it contested then.
In the September 2020 Sabah elections, LDP tried to make a comeback when it fielded 46 candidates but lost all its deposits. It later applied to join GRS and was only accepted in 2023.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
