KOTA KINABALU (Nov 1): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will contest all seats negotiated and agreed upon with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the upcoming Sabah elections, regardless of any overlapping claims, said GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He was responding to reports that the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) plans to contest several GRS-held seats, including Limbahau, Kiulu and Tamparuli.
Upko secretary-general Datuk Nelson Angang had announced his intention to contest in Limbahau during the party’s Papar Convention in October, while the Tuaran Convention that same month proposed its honorary president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau for Tamparuli and division deputy chief Joisin Romut for Kiulu.
Currently, the Limbahau seat is held by Datuk Juil Nuatim of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), Tamparuli by Datuk Seri Jahid Jahim of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), and Kiulu by Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, also of PBS.
Masidi said negotiations between GRS and PH were conducted in good faith and must be respected by all parties, including Upko, which is part of the four-member Sabah PH coalition.
“Upko is part of PH. On that basis, we expect everyone to honor the agreement.
“If they don’t, then they are opening the door to an even wider free-for-all,” he told reporters after representing caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in officiating the BIGSABAH Sale 2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
He stressed that GRS would stand firm on the seats decided through its discussions with PH, saying mutual respect for the agreement is crucial to maintaining coalition unity.
“For us in GRS, the seats that have been negotiated with PH are where we will place our candidates, regardless of whoever else contests,” he said.
Asked if he anticipated a free-for-all in the coming state election, Masidi said anything is possible in politics but hoped common sense would prevail.
“If you keep fighting each other, you are allowing parties who are not friendly to you to win.
“And if we have decided to work as a team, then we should operate as a team.
“You cannot say you are a friend but at the same time stab someone in the back. Friendship, to my mind, doesn’t work that way,” he said.
On speculation that GRS might announce its list of candidates before nomination day, Masidi said the coalition plans to do so about a week before the official nomination period.
He also confirmed he is likely to defend his Karanaan seat.
“I’m the deputy president of the party, so I’ll be shying away from my responsibility if I don’t (contest). Generals should lead, not just give orders from behind,” he said.
However, Masidi added that anyone interested in contesting is free to do so, as Malaysia is a democratic country.
-Agency
