Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman and chief minister Hajiji Noor said clashes with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) in the 17th Sabah state election are “unavoidable” now that both parties have quit the coalition.
“If they have left, there will indeed be collisions,” he told reporters after a meeting with government assemblymen at the Dewan Bankuasi, Menara Kinabalu, on Monday.
Hajiji said GRS expects to face candidates from both parties in the coming polls.
“They will use their own logo and field candidates where they wish, and I am very confident we will also contest against STAR and SAPP candidates,” he said.
Asked whether STAR’s exit would affect GRS among Kadazan-Dusun-Murut-Rungus (KDMR) voters, Hajiji stressed that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) remains with GRS and can offset any impact.
“We are confident PBS is with us, and that its strength and influence are sufficient to help,” he said.
On whether STAR and SAPP could return to work with GRS after the election, Hajiji replied: “The question does not arise.”
Present at the press conference were STAR assemblymen Ellron Angin (Sook), Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan), Annuar Ayub (Liawan) and Flovia Ng (Tulid).
