KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) hopes to further unite political parties in the state following its successful registration as a single political entity.

       Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also GRS chairman, said it received the certificate of approval last Friday after sending its application to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) a few weeks ago.

       He said GRS hopes to garner more support from those who wish to fight for Sabah’s rights and development.

       He said the GRS-led state is in a new political landscape.

       “The move to register GRS as a single entity came from supporters as they wanted to see GRS officially registered,” Hajiji said after launching former Parti Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony’s new party, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), yesterday.

       Hajiji, however, has yet to give further details on GRS membership as Umno previously mentioned that according to its party constitution, it is not allowed to officially be part of another coalition.

       Umno is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition.

       GRS is made up of Sabah Barisan Nasional (Sabah Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS, MCA and MIC), Sabah Perikatan (Bersatu Sabah, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party or SAPP, Sabah PAS and Gerakan) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

       Hajiji said GRS’ focus is on the people and unity.

       He also congratulated Barisan for winning the Johor election, saying that each state is different, although he did not elaborate.

       Earlier at the event, Peter again expressed his wish for KDM to join GRS, to which Hajiji responded: “We welcome this intention.”

       He added that he would bring the proposal to other GRS members for discussion.

       Peter said some are unhappy about KDM’s wish to join GRS, but he hopes things will work out.

       He said he is an open-minded person who accepts constructive criticism, but ultimately would leave the decision to Hajiji on whether to accept KDM into GRS.

       Peter said it is no longer right for Sabah leaders to fight against each other as unity is the only thing that could push for more development and help in the fight for state rights.

       “Why not we start from here, from zero? That way, we will have a stronger voice for the sake of Sabah and its people,” Peter added.

       He said KDM will now focus on holding roadshows to register new voters and prepare for the possibility of a general election, which can be anytime.

       Representatives from various parties, including SAPP, PBS, Sabah STAR and PBRS, attended the KDM launch.