Sabah’s political rift between the state’s political giants widened following the palui (fool) remark.  

Sabah Umno Information Chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir, today, criticized Gabungan Rakyat Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor “Palui” (fool) reference as ironic and opportunistic.

“Hajiji was the one who invited Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional into Sabah. Now he’s criticizing them,” Suhaimi said on Friday.

Suhaimi was referring to the scolding Hajiji made against Bersatu deputy president and Perikatan Nasional leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin for stating the “palui” in Keningau on Thursday.

Hajiji has described the remark as disrespectful and an insult to Sabah leaders and its people. 

The controversy follows a police report lodged by Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) against Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin

G57 Chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar argued that derogatory remarks towards leaders indirectly insult the people of Sabah.

Hamzah’s remarks follow his criticism of Hajiji and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders for leaving Bersatu in 2022 to establish Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.

Hamzah noted the move was an effort to to ride on the “local champion” sentiment when the Gagasan leaders were originally members of national parties like Umno and Bersatu.

Sabah UMNO fallout against GRS occur in 2023 when the state Bersatu leaders led by Hajiji left the party and later took over Gagasan.  – January 24, 2025.