> December 2018: Exit from Umno
Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, and several other Sabah Umno leaders resigned from the party. This mass exodus came in the wake of Umno’s defeat in the 2018 General Election (GE14). The leaders cited dissatisfaction with the party’s direction and its waning influence in Sabah.
> April 6, 2019: Joining Bersatu
Hajiji and Masidi officially joined Bersatu, coinciding with the party’s entry into Sabah. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then Bersatu chairman, launched the Sabah chapter during a ceremony in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Hajiji was appointed as Sabah Bersatu chief, with Masidi playing a significant supporting role.
> September 26, 2020: Victory in Sabah election
Under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) alliance, Bersatu, Barisan Nasional (BN), and PBS won the 16th Sabah state election. Hajiji was sworn in as Chief Minister, while Masidi retained his Karanaan seat. Bersatu’s success cemented its role as a key component in the state’s ruling coalition.
> November 2022: Federal political shift after GE15
The 15th General Election (GE15) resulted in a hung parliament. To stabilize the government, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) formed an alliance to support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister. Hajiji and Masidi faced a critical decision: support Anwar’s administration or remain aligned with Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional (PN).
> December 10, 2022: Departure from Bersatu
Hajiji, Masidi, and other Sabah Bersatu leaders announced their resignation from the party. Their decision was driven by the need to support the newly formed federal government under Anwar Ibrahim, which required cooperation with PH and BN. This marked a significant shift away from Bersatu and PN, aligning instead with the Madani government.
> February 5, 2023: Leadership of Gagasan Rakyat
Hajiji and Masidi assumed leadership of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), transitioning from Bersatu to a locally-focused political platform. Gagasan Rakyat was integrated into the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, solidifying Hajiji’s position as Chief Minister. The move was seen as a step toward asserting Sabah’s political autonomy.
> 2023 to Present: Consolidating Gagasan Rakyat
Hajiji and Masidi worked to strengthen Gagasan Rakyat as a core party in the GRS coalition. The transition underscored their commitment to Sabah-based politics and their focus on ensuring the state’s interests are represented under a stable federal administration. – January 22, 2025.
