KOTA KINABALU: The membership applications of three parties including Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia (KDM) led by former Parti Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony to join Gabungan Rakyat Sabah remains on the table.

       GRS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (pic) said that the GRS supreme council has not rejected the three parties' membership applications but has yet to make a decision on their applications.

       "It is pending," Bangkuai said on Tuesday (May 10).

       On Monday (May 9), GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that the supreme council accepted the application of the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) led by former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin.

       However, the meeting did not make any decision on accepting KDM, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) led by former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Datuk Chin Su Phin.

       Bangkuai explained that the three parties' applications would be considered in due course as they needed more time to work with the parties concerned before considering.

       He said that Hajiji had made it clear that GRS would continue to work with the parties and involve them in political activities as well as for the May 26 official launching of GRS.

       The decision came as a surprise as KDM with two assemblymen was not yet accepted by the GRS.

       Anthony, who is currently on trial for falsifying a Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) letter to obtain a contract, had quit Warisan in December last year to throw his support behind GRS and Hajiji.

       Usno, PCS and LDP do not hold any elected seats in the state or in Parliament.

       With Usno's entry, GRS will have five parties. The current members are the Sabah chapter of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah STAR and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).