KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has urged Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah leaders at all divisions to ensure the party machinery is in order ahead of the state election due in 2025.
Hajiji, who is Gagasan Rakyat president, said they should also increase the number of members and open more branches to strengthen the party, which was officially launched in March this year.
"Currently, Gagasan Rakyat has over 200,000 members and we expect to have 300,000 members by the end of the year.
"I am sure once we hold our first party general assembly in November, Gagasan Rakyat will be a strong party in this country.
"It is important for us to increase party membership and establish branches in all divisions in the state," he said during a meet-and-greet session with Gagasan Rakyat members in the Tawau and Kalabakan divisions on Sunday (Aug 27).
Hajiji said it was important for the party to strengthen itself to meet many political challenges.
"Our hope is for the people of Sabah to use a local party platform. Our aim is to work for the people and the development of Sabah," he added.
"Our decision to establish a local party is correct and good for the future of this state," said Hajiji, who led an exodus of members and leaders out of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia in December last year to form Gagasan Rakyat.
Gagasan Rakyat is the main party in the seven-member Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state coalition led by Hajiji.
GRS and Pakatan Harapan, together with breakaway leaders from Sabah Barisan Nasional, are part of the state government coalition.
At the event, Hajiji also received new members from various state constituencies including Balung, Apas, Sri Tanjung, Kukusan, Tanjung Batu, Merotai and Sebatik.
Recently, Hajiji had told reporters that the GRS state government will complete its full five-year term and there is no reason to call an early election as they wanted to focus on the state's development.
He has also said GRS will work with its coalition partners – Pakatan and Barisan – under the federal unity government in the state elections.
Parti Warisan, which is part of the federal unity government, remains in opposition to the GRS state government at state level.
