KOTA KINABALU: Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) is focused on joining Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) instead of other political coalitions.

       Its president Datuk Peter Anthony said the idea of linking up with others have not cropped up yet despite KDM’s application to join GRS has been put on hold.

       He pointed out the only priority now for KDM, which has two assemblymen, is to become an official member of GRS.

       "There are no plans yet," he said, when asked if the party was considering joining other coalitions given that their application has yet to be approved by GRS.

       "We are invited to the official launching of GRS ceremony tomorrow (May 28).

       "What is important now is to give full support to the Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor) and to support the current state government," he added.

       Anthony was speaking after arriving at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on his return from the nation’s capital on Friday (May 27).

       Anthony, the Melalap assemblyman, said he and his deputy Datuk Juil Nuatim, who was Limbahau assemblyman, were committed to backing GRS for now.

       "It is up to them (GRS) whether they want to accept us or not. But for the time being, we are friendly with the government," he said.

       GRS, which was originally made up of four parties, accepted the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) as its fifth official member earlier this month.

       The GRS supreme council, chaired by Hajiji, however, left applications by KDM, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) led by former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on the backburner.

       Besides the Sabah chapter of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, other parties which make up GRS are Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah STAR) and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).