Hajiji not ruling out likelihood of GRS teaming up with Warisan for next state polls

KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has not ruled out the possibility of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) teaming up with Parti Warisan for the next state election that is due in 2025.

The Chief Minister said, however, the present state government comprised the cooperation between GRS, Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.

“We are open to matters that are good for Sabah,” he told reporters after launching the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant Phase II project in the Papar district on Friday (Aug 24).

“But the government of the day (in Sabah) consists of GRS, Pakatan and Barisan.

“In Barisan, there are those who support this government and some who have pulled support from it.

“So, it is sufficient I say (until) Barisan. But for others (parties) …yes, we are a government that is open to any good proposal for the unity of the people and Sabah,” added the GRS chairman.

Hajiji said this when asked to comment on remarks by Warisan’s Lahad Datu MP Datuk Yusof Apdal who had previously also did not discount chances of Warisan working with GRS for the state elections.

“Wait and see, when the time comes, whether that will (happen) or not,” said the Deputy Higher Education Minister during an event in the east coast Lahad Datu district last Saturday (Aug 19).

Yusof, who is Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s younger brother, said these parties were already partners at the Federal level but that he would leave it to the Warisan supreme council to decide.

Hajiji had previously said that GRS would stick to its Pakatan and Barisan unity government partners for the coming state polls.

He was responding to questions over the proposal by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee that only local parties should contest the next state election due in September 2025.

In January this year, an attempt to topple the GRS government by Sabah Barisan and Warisan failed after seven Sabah Pakatan assemblymen and several state Umno dissidents pledged support for Hajiji, allowing him to remain as the CM.