Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor is remaining tight-lipped as his party, Gagasan Rakyat, begins a pivotal meeting that could determine its strategy ahead of the upcoming state election.
Gagasan Rakyat, a core component of the eight-party Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, is holding its three-day annual general meeting from Friday to Sunday.
Key GRS partners are closely observing the proceedings to see whether Gagasan will choose to contest the state election independently or formalise an alliance with the national coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The Sabah State Legislative Assembly is scheduled for automatic dissolution on November 11, allowing the election to be called at any time.
When asked about the party’s stance on critical decisions ahead of the polls, Hajiji offered only a brief response:
“Just wait for my speech on Sunday.”
His statement provided little clarity to GRS allies, who are awaiting confirmation on whether Hajiji intends to lead the coalition solo or pursue a formal partnership with PH.
The three-day convention is widely expected to set the tone for GRS’s electoral strategy in the coming months. It also provides an opportunity for party members to raise issues on candidate selection, campaign direction, and the coalition’s future—particularly the potential pact with PH, which is expected to be a major point of debate.
Tensions within GRS have been simmering for months over Hajiji’s apparent leanings towards PH. Although he has publicly voiced support for the alliance, several leaders maintain that the matter has yet to be formally discussed or endorsed by the GRS Supreme Council.
USNO president Pandikar Amin Mulia, who in May received Hajiji’s assurance that all GRS component presidents would be consulted before any decision is made, confirmed this week that the matter remains unresolved.
“The GRS Supreme Council has yet to meet on this,” Pandikar said.
Calls for GRS to contest the election alone have been growing, particularly from local parties advocating greater political autonomy for Sabah. This sentiment was on full display at last week’s joint PBS-STAR convention in Penampang, where delegates chanted “solo” during speeches, signalling a strong push for GRS to run independently.
GRS currently comprises Gagasan Rakyat, STAR, PBS, SAPP, USNO, LDP, PHRS, and Parti Cinta Sabah.
