KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's push for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition to work with national parties in the upcoming state polls is a test of the coalition's unity, says political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang.
He said that Hajiji's announcement was a "decisive" shift in political strategy that the component parties must accept.
"Hajiji strongly indicates his stand on working with Pakatan in the coming state election. It is a shift in political strategy, one that urges the component parties within GRS to adopt a more inclusive and cooperative stance toward Pakatan," he said.
The Sabah UiTM lecturer said it would be a litmus test for Hajiji to keep the eight-party coalition together.
"Hajiji's ability to manage internal dissension, strike a balance between conflicting interests, and strategically match the coalition's goals with the expectations of Sabah's voters will ultimately determine whether or not he can keep GRS together," he said when contacted on Sunday (Sept 22).
On Saturday (Sept 21), Hajiji said GRS had no choice but to form an electoral pact with national parties in the coming state elections.
He said GRS was not yet ready to be like neighbouring Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) all local party formula to contest in the 17th state election on its own.
Hajiji said that Sabah still needed a working political relationship with national parties and indicated he aims to solidify the GRS coalition with Pakatan Plus in an electoral pact for the upcoming state election.
The Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) president said this when opening the Sindumin Gagasan Rakyat division annual general meeting, which surprised some component party leaders.
Sabah STAR led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee and Parti Usno led by Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia have previously said that GRS should go into the state election on its own.
Several of the leaders contacted said that they were shocked by Hajiji's announcement and that the GRS supreme council has not met to decide whether GRS should team up with Pakatan Plus.
The leaders, who declined to speak officially, said that the GRS supreme council should make the decision.
The other members of GRS are Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) led by Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Datuk Chin Su Phin and Parti Cinta Sabah led by Tan Sri Anifah Aman.
Hajiji forged a coalition with Sabah Pakatan in January 2023 after Sabah Barisan Nasional, led by Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, withdrew its support.
Renegade assemblymen from Sabah Umno and opposition Parti Warisan strengthened Hajiji's hold on the state government.
Recently, Bung and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Barisan was ready to work with Pakatan under the national unity government framework in the coming state election.
However, Bung had yet to say if Sabah Barisan would be ready to work with GRS.
