COMMENT | The outcome of the Sabah state election has left many people surprised. Not because Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is weak, but because for months it was hit with harsh insults.

The coalition was accused of betraying Sabah, its own people and sacrificing its dignity simply because it chose to continue working with Pakatan Harapan.

GRS never hid that decision. Long before the state assembly was dissolved, it had already announced that cooperation with Harapan would carry on. Yet despite the attacks, voters rewarded them with an even stronger mandate.

This tells us something very clear. Sabahans did not reject Harapan. They knew GRS was aligned with Harapan. They knew the partnership would continue after the election. It was not a quiet deal or an arrangement made behind closed doors. It was public knowledge.

If Sabahans were truly angry with Harapan, GRS would have...