adminKOTA KINABALU: The Sabah People’s Coalition (GRS) today unanimously agreed to accept the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) as a new member party of the coalition with immediate effect.
GRS Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the decision was reached at the GRS Supreme Council Meeting as UPKO’s application was in line with the goal of strengthening the coalition and the position of local parties in the Sabah State Government.
“The acceptance of UPKO is in line with the struggle of GRS, namely ‘Sabah United’ and ‘Sabah First’, to give strength to local parties, besides creating government stability at the state level,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting here today.
Also present were GRS Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, GRS Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Acting President of the United Sabah Party (PBS) Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, President of the Sabah Love Party (PCS) Tan Sri Anifah Aman, President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Datuk Chin Su Phin and President of the Sabah People’s Hope Party (PHRS) Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah.
UPKO officially submitted an application to join GRS on May 29, which was submitted by its President Datuk Ewon Benedick to Hajiji.
The inclusion of UPKO means that GRS now consists of six component parties, namely the Sabah People’s Thought Party (PGRS), PBS, LDP, PHRS and PCS.
Meanwhile, Hajiji, who is also the Chief Minister of Sabah, said the meeting also discussed early preparations for the upcoming General Election (GE) through efforts to streamline the party machinery in all parliamentary constituencies in the state.
For this purpose, he said GRS appointed all component party presidents to lead six zones responsible for carrying out inspections and monitoring division preparation reports in their respective areas.
Hajiji, who is also the President of PGRS, will lead Zone One covering Kudat, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud and Tuaran, while Masidi has been appointed as the chairman of Zone Two covering Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan.
Zone Three includes Papar, Kimanis, Beaufort and Sipitang and is led by Anifah, while Joachim chairs Zone Four, which includes Ranau, Keningau, Pensiangan and Tenom.
Chin, on the other hand, leads Zone Five (Sandakan, Batu Sapi, Libaran, Beluran and Kinabatangan) while Zone Six, which covers Tawau, Kalabakan, Lahad Datu and Semporna, is led by Liew.
“Although the parliamentary term will only end at the end of next year, we in Sabah must prepare early,” he said, adding that GRS intends to field candidates in all 25 parliamentary seats as well as in Labuan.
— BERNAMA
