The cracks within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are no longer whispers.

STAR president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has publicly backed USNO’s Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, saying the veteran’s recent criticisms of GRS should not be taken lightly.

“Pandikar has raised valid concerns about how GRS is functioning. I understand his frustrations and I agree with many of the points he made.

“As a senior leader who has served Sabah with distinction, his voice must be taken seriously,” Jeffrey said.

The admission marks a serious public acknowledgment yet from a top GRS leader that the coalition is facing problems — and it comes just months before Sabah is due to hold its next state election.

In an interview with The Vibes, Pandikar accused the GRS leadership of marginalising USNO and reducing it to an “ornamental” role due to its lack of assembly representation. 

He warned that if the sidelining continues, USNO may contest the polls independently. His remarks recently drew backlash from some GRS youth leaders. 

“There must be mutual respect, teamwork and meaningful consultation. Every component party deserves to be heard and treated with dignity.

“It is unacceptable for junior figures to publicly undermine senior leaders,” said Jeffrey. 

“This is not how responsible coalitions work. Internal matters must be raised at the proper forum — the GRS Leadership Council — and we must be mature enough to listen,” he added.

Jeffrey stressed that no party should be treated as symbolic. 

He proposed assigning meaningful roles — or rotating leadership responsibilities — to reduce friction and build trust.

He also demanded clarity from GRS over whether it will contest independently or align with a federal bloc in the next polls.

“This cannot be left vague. The people deserve clarity and honesty,” he said.

To address broader fragmentation, Jeffrey called for a Sabah Unity Meeting involving all local parties — not just GRS — to set a more autonomous course.

“I have said this before and I will say it again: Unity is Duty,” he said.

Among the reforms he outlined: regular leadership meetings, rotating or defined roles for all component parties, a firm position on federal alliances, and open political dialogue to avoid future fragmentation.

“This is not about ego or positions,” he stressed. “GRS must fix its internal dysfunction or risk losing its mandate.”

Jeffrey is not alone.

SAPP president and also GRS deputy chairman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee also took aim at Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan) — the party led by Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor — following provocations from grassroots leaders in Kiulu and Bingkor recently. 

Yong reminded Gagasan’s younger leaders that the party is no UMNO, or at least held the political strength the party once had in Sabah. 

“The reality is, Gagasan is not as strong as UMNO was before its fall. Likewise, GRS is not as dominant as Barisan Nasional was in its prime.

“Some of Gagasan’s young leaders behave and speak as though they are as powerful as UMNO at its peak. That’s a dangerous illusion,” he said.

He urged younger leaders to study Sabah’s political history, warning against arrogance and exclusion.

“History shows that when parties are belittled or pushed aside, they eventually walk away — and that can bring down even the most powerful coalitions,” he said. – May 5, 2025