Gagasan Rakyat deputy president Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has welcomed Bersatu’s plan to reclaim seats it won in the 2020 Sabah election, including his Karanaan constituency.

Bersatu won 11 seats in the 16th Sabah Election, but Masidi and other leaders later left the party, joining Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) in 2023.

“This country, including our state, practices democracy. Anyone can contest, even in my constituency. We welcome it wholeheartedly. If they feel confident and think they have a chance to win, they’re welcome to try,” Masidi said at a function in Kota Kinabalu.

He said political competition should not be taken personally.

“This is an electoral contest, not a physical fight. Here, we practice respectful and friendly politics,” he added.

When asked if Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) local roots give it an edge over Bersatu, Masidi left the decision to voters.

“I’m not being overconfident, but from what I’ve observed, the people still support us,” he said, adding that his belief stems from his recent interactions with constituents.

Masidi’s comments follow Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s announcement of the party’s plan to make a comeback in Sabah.

Hamzah claimed Bersatu had strengthened its base over the past five years and was looking to reclaim the seats it won in 2020, including Karanaan.

Masidi, a key figure in bringing Bersatu to Sabah, played a central role in its establishment in the state on April 6, 2019.

Together with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Masidi led Bersatu’s entry after leaving Umno.

In the 2020 state election, they contested under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah alliance and won alongside Barisan Nasional (BN) and PBS.

However, in 2022, Masidi and Hajiji exited Bersatu after Perikatan Nasional failed to form the federal government following the 15th General Election.

Their decision was influenced by political instability at the federal level, which saw Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN forming the Madani government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

Masidi and Hajiji later took over Gagasan Rakyat, solidifying its place in the GRS coalition and excluding Bersatu. -January 22, 2025.