Political stability due to GRS Coalition

Joniston (4th from right) and Demis (4th from left) with PBS Kadamaian AGM delegates and observers.

22 August 2025

KOTA BELUD: Sabah's current political stability is a testament to the strength of a locally-led government under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.

GRS Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said this stood in stark contrast to Parti Warisan and the Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM), which had previously attempted to unseat Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor by aligning with Umno in January 2023.

“They campaigned on slogans like ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ and ‘No to Peninsula-Based Parties’. Even Shafie Apdal called for unity to topple Barisan Nasional in Sabah. But when the opportunity arose, Warisan rushed into the arms of Umno,” he said.

“If that power grab had succeeded, Sabah would have ended up with a government led by Umno—potentially directed from Kuala Lumpur rather than by a Sabah-based party or coalition,” said Joniston, who is also the Information Chief of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

Speaking while officiating the PBS Kadamaian Division’s Annual General Meeting today, Joniston described the actions of Warisan and PKDM as blatant political hypocrisy that Sabahans should not forget.

“You can’t preach one thing and do the opposite when power is at stake. They sold a narrative to the people, but when the chips were down, they were willing to abandon it,” he added.

He pointed to further evidence of this hypocrisy in Warisan and PKDM’s support for Umno’s move—via the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development—to push through the establishment of the Jawatankuasa Desa Madani (JKDM) in Sabah’s villages.

While the GRS-led state government strongly opposed the JKDM, viewing it as a divide-and-rule tactic—particularly as each village already has a Jawatankuasa Keselamatan dan Kemajuan Kampung (JKKK)—Warisan and PKDM backed the initiative, with many of their grassroots leaders even being appointed as JKDM chairpersons.

In contrast, Joniston said GRS has emerged as the dominant political force in Sabah by uniting local-based parties to ensure political stability and cohesion.

The Kiulu assemblyman noted that Pakatan Harapan (PH) recognised GRS’s leadership and chose to work with the Hajiji-led local coalition for the sake of stability in the state.

“When peninsula-based parties like PKR and DAP choose to support Hajiji and work with GRS, it reflects the credibility, strength, and unity GRS offers in representing Sabah’s voice,” he said.

Joniston described GRS’s approach as striking the right balance between strategic federal collaboration and safeguarding local autonomy—enabling Sabah to attract development support while keeping decision-making firmly in the hands of Sabahans.

He urged PBS members and GRS supporters to remain united and focused, especially with the next state election expected as early as next month.

He also reaffirmed GRS’s commitment to championing Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) while working closely with federal partners to bring in investment, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.

“Unity has been our strength, and the people want stability. That’s what GRS and PBS continue to deliver.

“Our focus remains on driving progress for the people of Sabah—protecting our autonomy while securing the support needed to move the state forward,” he said.

During the AGM, Joniston praised PBS Kadamaian, led by Demis Rumanti, for their perseverance in maintaining the party’s relevance in the constituency.

“Kadamaian will always be on PBS’s radar as a winnable seat,” he said, drawing loud cheers from over 300 delegates and observers.