Masidi: GRS will consider every party, big or small, that wants to join

KOTA KINABALU: Any party, regardless of its size or influence, is welcome to join Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) – with conditions, says Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

The GRS secretary-general said one of the main objectives of forming the coalition was to unite and create a bigger political platform for all Sabah parties to work together.

He said the issue of a party’s size was not a main point of concern because every “functioning party” deserved to be treated with respect.

“On this basis, GRS is willing to consider every application to join the coalition but don’t apply today and expected to be accepted tomorrow,” he told the media on Wednesday (June 8) when asked if GRS was looking at accepting more parties.

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This followed Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS) applying to join last month.

“GRS has its own criteria and we decide whether to accept or decline the application of a party based on consensus among all coalition partners,” he said.

PHRS recently took in Kukusan assemblyman Rina Jainal, a former Warisan Women’s wing deputy youth chief.

Masidi said political unity would allow GRS to focus its time and effort on developing Sabah instead of indulging in endless politicking.

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He said politicians had already wasted so much time infighting, time that could have been spent working to build up the economy of the state and its people.

Apart from PHRS, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) led by former Warisan vice president Datuk Peter Anthony is also waiting to be accepted into GRS.

However, certain members of the coalition including Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) are not in favour of KDM joining.