KOTA KINABALU: Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has confirmed an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan, ending months of speculation over the alignment between state and national coalitions in Sabah.

GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor confirmed that the local coalition will continue its cooperation with Sabah Pakatan Harapan, established midway through its first five-year term after Sabah Barisan Nasional withdrew its support in January 2023.

“We will continue the cooperation between GRS and Pakatan as it stands today,” he said after officiating the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) annual general assembly at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Sunday (July 27).

When asked if the GRS component parties had agreed to the arrangement, Hajiji replied, “Agreed.”

He said the cooperation would maintain the strong collaboration between GRS and the national party, bringing significant benefits.

Regarding seat sharing between GRS and Pakatan, Hajiji said a formula was more or less finalised, but a few overlapping seats needed to be discussed.

“Of course, but not finalised. Only a few things to sort out,” he said.

Hajiji disclosed this to reporters after his keynote address at the annual general meeting of Gagasan Rakyat, the anchor party of the ruling eight-party GRS.

Key GRS component parties were represented, including Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) by deputy president Datuk Jahid Jahim, Sabah STAR by deputy president Datuk Ellron Angin, and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah’s president Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah by deputy president Datuk Yong Chi Gui.

Party presidents present included Sabah Progressive Party (Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee), Parti Usno (Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia), Parti Cinta Sabah (Tan Sri Anifah Aman), and Liberal Democratic Party (Datuk Chin Su Phin).

Sabah Pakatan leaders included state PKR chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, while Upko was represented by deputy president Datuk Donald Mojuntin.

Also present were former chief minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, working for PBS-Sabah STAR electoral cooperation under GRS, and Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is suspended from Umno.

In his keynote speech, Hajiji did not directly address the electoral pact but hinted at continued cooperation with Pakatan to ensure stability and benefits for Sabah.

He emphasised local party dominance in Sabah, saying, “Our master is here, our master is not there,” reassuring delegates of Sabah-based parties’ dominance.

Gagasan Rakyat currently holds 26 of the 42 state seats held by GRS. PBS holds seven seats, and Sabah STAR has six. SAPP and Harapan Rakyat hold one seat each. Other component parties do not hold any seats.

Both Sabah STAR and PBS have pushed for GRS to go solo, and if locked into an electoral pact with Pakatan, GRS should be the dominant party.

All parties in GRS oppose any pact with Sabah Barisan Nasional, who also refuses to work with GRS.

GRS, Pakatan, Barisan, Parti Warisan, and Parti KDM are part of the national unity government, but Warisan, Sabah Barisan, and KDM remain in opposition to the GRS state government.

Sabah Barisan under Bung is also discussing an electoral pact with Pakatan.