Hajiji's move to ally with Harapan shocks partners, ridiculed by BN

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor's announcement that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will partner with Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming state election appears to have caught coalition partners off guard.

The move has also been ridiculed by BN, which is Harapan’s partner but GRS’ bitter foe.

Over the past month, sentiment had been building within GRS that the coalition should contest the election solo.

PBS and Sabah Star were among the key proponents for this direction, arguing that Sabah parties should lead the state, not parties based in Peninsular Malaysia.

This was their expectation when Hajiji (above) took to the stage at his Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan) AGM yesterday, only for the opposite to happen.

“I thought he was going to announce going solo”, an unnamed GRS leader told The Star yesterday.

The English daily reported that four coalition leaders it contacted were not aware of any decision by the GRS supreme council to partner with Harapan, despite Hajiji claiming it was already discussed.

BN seeing red

Hajiji's rival, Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin, mocked the decision.

"So-called local party (agenda) but still partnering with (a) Malaya (coalition)!" Bung said in a Facebook post last night.

Sabah Umno information chief Suhaimi Nasir also took veiled jabs at GRS, while asserting BN's position as being Harapan's main partner in Sabah.

“Sabah BN is not a mere complement to any political coalition. We are not a second option,” said Suhaimi, who is also the MP for Libaran, in a statement yesterday.

“We are a team that is ready to lead this state, equipped with proven experience, a solid organisational structure, and real capacity,” he said.

He also stressed that BN's partnership with Harapan is not just a political lifeline for any individuals.

This appeared to hint at the ongoing corruption scandal plaguing Hajiji and GRS.

It is not clear how Harapan plans to navigate seat distributions and potential clashes between BN and GRS, and whether the love triangle it is seeking to balance is sustainable.

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