Sabah’s political landscape shows no signs of stabilizing, with tensions escalating between its key players following a sharp exchange of words between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Perikatan Nasional (PN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

Hajiji’s rebuke of Hamzah over the word palui – a local term for fool – during a public event in Keningau has drawn backlash from Sabah UMNO.

Datuk Suhaimi Nasir, UMNO Sabah’s information chief, described Hajiji’s interpretation of Hamzah’s use of the term as both “ironic” and “opportunistic.”

“Hajiji was the one who brought Bersatu and PN into Sabah. Now, he’s turned on them,” Suhaimi said, taking aim at the GRS leader’s role in shaping the alliances he now criticizes.

The tension is rooted in a wider dispute over comments made by Hamzah, who accused Hajiji and GRS of betraying Bersatu by leaving the party in 2022 to form Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.

Hamzah argued that the move was a calculated attempt to tap into Sabahans’ preference for local-centric politics while glossing over their leaders’ history in national parties like UMNO and Bersatu.

Hajiji, however, launched a salvo against Hamzah, accusing him of disrespecting Sabah’s leaders and, by extension, its people.

The war of words between the leaders of the two political giants – Bersatu and Gagasan – stems from a police report lodged by Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57), a civil group known for filing reports when political attacks are made against Sabah’s political powers.

“Any insult directed at our leaders is an insult to all Sabahans,” said G57 chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar.

The feud also revived tensions from 2023, when Sabah UMNO severed ties with GRS after Hajiji led state Bersatu members in a mass exodus to establish Gagasan.

That move, seen by some as an effort to consolidate local political power, remains a sore point for UMNO and PN leaders alike. – January 24, 2025.