Hajiji to seek GRS consensus on registration

TUARAN: Party leaders of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition are due to meet and discuss its registration as a political party, and a proposal to limit the tenure of the Sabah chief minister to two terms, said GRS chairman Hajiji Noor.

Hajiji, who is also the chief minister, said the two proposals seemed appealing in principle but the consent of all GRS component parties had to be obtained before they could be implemented.

He said he welcomed the readiness of state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Bung Moktar Radin to discuss the registration proposal and hoped the move would strengthen cooperation in the coalition.

“The Sabah state government is supported by GRS, so to officially register GRS is a proposal that can be considered. Whatever is good for Sabah and GRS politics, we will look into them and make an in-depth study,” he told reporters here today.

Earlier, Hajiji who is Sabah Bersatu chief launched the Bersatu Tuaran division annual assembly.

GRS Backbenchers Club chairman Salleh Said Keruak had recently suggested that GRS leaders take immediate steps to register the coalition as an official political coalition.

Salleh, who is Usukan state assemblyman, said it would strengthen GRS and was necessary to avoid a break-up among coalition members, especially between BN and Perikatan Nasional.

Yesterday, Bung Moktar, who is also a GRS deputy chairman, said the proposal was only Salleh’s personal view, and required in-depth study.

GRS is a coalition of parties in PN (Bersatu, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Parti Progresif Sabah and PAS), BN (Umno, MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) and Parti Bersatu Sabah.

On the proposal that the chief minister’s post be limited to two terms, Hajiji said the motion, proposed during the Bersatu divisional annual assembly in Sabah, will be brought to the government for consideration after it has been agreed by GRS component parties.

“The proposal will involve amendments to the Sabah state constitution and needs to be thoroughly examined by all, including the GRS leadership. Only then can we take the next course of action,” he said. — Free Malaysia Today