Kitingan urges GRS to reform after Usno threatens to go solo

 GRS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan says the coalition cannot treat its component parties as being ‘mere decorations’.

GRS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan said every component party in the coalition, regardless of whether it currently holds seats, had the right to be treated with respect.

PETALING JAYA:

 Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy chief Jeffrey Kitingan says the coalition must improve the way it operates after Usno president Pandikar Amin Mulia highlighted concerns about how the ruling Sabah coalition is functioning.

Pandikar, a former Dewan Rakyat speaker, last week said Usno had been ignored by some GRS leaders after his party demanded seats to contest in the state polls.

He warned that Usno might go solo in the state elections if it remained sidelined within GRS.

In a statement, Kitingan, the Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president, said each GRS component party, regardless of whether it currently holds seats, had the right to be treated with respect.

Stating that no GRS component party should be treated as merely a “decoration”, Kitingan said the coalition must be ready to address Amin’s concerns with openness and maturity.

“I understand his frustrations and I agree with the points he has raised. As a senior leader who has served Sabah with distinction, his opinion must be considered seriously,” said Kitingan.

“This is not about ego or position. It is about restoring order and integrity within our coalition. If we fail to fix what’s broken in GRS, we risk losing the mandate that has been entrusted to us.”

Besides Usno and STAR, GRS is composed of Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor’s Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party and Parti Cinta Sabah.

Kitingan proposed that GRS’s supreme council host regular meetings to address Amin’s concerns, which will also provide an organised forum for component parties to suggest improvements.

He suggested that rotating leadership duties will help build trust and reduce internal friction within the coalition, adding that every component party must be given clear responsibilities or roles — even if they do not currently hold state seats.

Kitingan also called for a meeting of all Sabah-based parties to explore broader cooperation, stating that it is important for local Sabah parties to engage in open discussions on how to safeguard the state’s political direction and reduce dependence on Putrajaya.

He added that it was crucial for GRS to take a clear stance on federal alignments before the upcoming state elections, which must be held by December.

“Will we contest all 73 seats independently or will we align ourselves with any federal bloc?

“This cannot be left ambiguous. The people deserve clarity and honesty.” - FMT