Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe has sidestepped Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s recent assertion that local parties must lead the next state government, saying Pakatan Harapan (PH) is still reassessing its position ahead of the upcoming Sabah election.
While not directly challenging Hajiji’s remarks, Phoong made it clear that PH’s support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the past does not necessarily mean it will continue under current circumstances.
“That’s what we accepted two years ago, right?” he said, referring to PH’s decision to support Hajiji’s leadership following the 2022 political realignment.
“But we need to look into what the situation unfolds. We cannot say that we accept today, and then tomorrow we do not accept.”
His comments came after Hajiji publicly declared that GRS must be the dominant force and that local parties should be prioritised over national coalitions in the state’s political future.
Hajiji said this in his remarks when officiating the 2025 USNO congress held at Kampung Rampayan Laut in Kota Belud on Sunday.
Phoong was clearly treading the matter cautiously as Sabah PH was also keen to work with GRS, despite officially the alliance was already locked for a cooperation with GRS rival political group in Sabah – Barisan Nasional (BN).
He also noted that Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud has indicated their intention to work with GRS in the Sabah election.
Phoong, who also serves as Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship under the Hajiji’s cabinet, confirmed that discussions within PH are ongoing and that no decisions have been finalised on seat allocations or potential electoral cooperation.
Phoong also confirmed that the coalition’s component parties — DAP, PKR, Amanah, and Upko — were still holding regular meetings.
“As far as PH is concerned, we need more time to reassess the situation. We have been following up and holding discussions from time to time,” he said.
While careful to avoid escalating tensions, Phoong shifted the focus from party alignments to governance performance — highlighting DAP’s role in improving Sabah’s investment climate and advancing technology and renewable energy.
“We don’t want to be seen like we talk about seats every day. It’s about policies — how are we going to make change?” he said.
Citing figures from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), he said Sabah recorded strong industrial growth in the first quarter of the year and insisted that performance should guide electoral trust.
“These are our report cards to the people. We believe the people on the ground share our aspirations,” he said.
When asked whether PH risks being caught between GRS and Barisan Nasional (BN), Phoong reframed the situation, describing the current political landscape as open-ended.
“Every day we have possibilities. The first thing is to prove to the people that we can deliver and fulfil their aspirations,” he said.
He said they are not closing the door on future collaboration with GRS but also said that automatic acceptance of leadership can no longer be taken for granted.
This shows a subtle but pointed signal that PH may seek a more assertive role in Sabah’s evolving political equation. – June 16, 2025
