A proposed electoral alliance between Sabah Umno and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) for the upcoming state election is facing significant opposition, with a majority of Sabah Umno division leaders rejecting the idea outright.

The Star has reported that over two-thirds of the 25 division leaders, led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, have made their position clear to the party’s top leadership: they want nothing to do with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and his coalition.

GRS, which Hajiji helms under his Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), has been governing the state alongside Sabah Pakatan Harapan since Bung pulled Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) out of the coalition in January 2023.

But if Anwar Ibrahim had hoped to bring everyone together, that plan appears dead on arrival—at least in Sabah Umno’s eyes. 

The prime minister and Pakatan chairman floated a proposal to forge an electoral pact between BN, GRS, and Pakatan, ensuring the 73 state seats are split evenly. 

Sources say Anwar pitched the idea to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and key Sabah BN leaders in a meeting recently.

The reception? Resoundingly negative.

A reported 22 out of the 25 Sabah Umno divisions have shot down the proposal, with party insiders citing a long list of grievances. 

Chief among them was the alleged betrayal by GRS, which they accuse of reneging on a pre-election deal before the 2020 snap polls.

“It doesn’t make sense to work with GRS,” said a Sabah Umno source familiar with the discussions, pointing to governance concerns, unresolved grassroots issues, and ongoing corruption allegations linked to mining licences.

Adding fuel to the fire, Sabah Umno sources claim GRS is attempting to re-nominate at least eight former Umno assemblymen who defected to Hajiji’s camp after BN’s exit from the coalition.

For Sabah Umno leaders, that’s a non-starter.

“The fact remains that Sabah Umno was cheated by Hajiji and GRS,” a senior party official said. 

“They never honored our agreement, which is one of the main reasons we pulled out in the first place.”

The party, however, appears open to working with Sabah Pakatan—just not with GRS.

Bung has been clear in his rejection of any partnership with Hajiji’s coalition. 

But Sabah Umno Deputy Chief Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan reportedly attempts to rekindle ties with GRS

In January 2024, Rahman also dismissed speculation about a Sabah Umno-Parti Warisan alliance, clarifying that no formal decision had been made. 

His moves have sparked internal discussions within Sabah Umno on potential collaborations with GRS and Pakatan Harapan.

Yet, the electoral chessboard in Sabah remains fluid. 

While all major state parties with elected representatives are technically part of the federal unity government, Sabah BN under Bung remains outside the GRS-led administration.

But within Sabah Barisan Nasional, there is no clear consensus on working with GRS.

While UMNO has taken a firm stance against an electoral pact, other BN component parties have been more cautious, avoiding direct confrontation with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s coalition.

The BN components in Sabah include MCA, MIC and PBRS.

Many however believe PBRS which has continued control over the interior division seat of Pensiangan would eventually to make a stand whether to continue their partnership in BN.

There is little indication they are eager to align with GRS, but at the same time, they are hesitant to be seen as outright opponents.

GRS, for its part, remains open to discussions with BN and Pakatan Harapan, leaving the door open for possible political maneuvering.

For now, Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin remains the loudest voice against any deal with GRS.

Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Warisan had also taken a hard opposition stance against GRS, while Parti KDM, led by Datuk Peter Anthony,  also stayed out of the state government. 

Warisan has yet to commit to any electoral pacts, but political observers believe anti-GRS forces may start coalescing ahead of the polls.

Even within GRS, cracks may be forming. 

Sources say not all coalition partners are sold on working with Pakatan and BN, leaving the door open for shifting alliances in the lead-up to the election. – February 9, 2025