KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR appreciates that Sabah Umno has decided to continue working together with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government led by state Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       Sabah STAR vice-president Datuk Annuar Ayub Khan said this stand was vital for state political stability amid the political turmoil in Peninsular Malaysia where Umno's supreme council had decided to withdraw support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Perikatan Nasional government.

       The Liawan assemblyman said this stance also showed that Umno, together with GRS, stood firm with their promise to the people of Sabah, who gave them the mandate to govern the state following last year’s state elections.

       Sabah Umno had recently issued a statement reiterating its stand to support the GRS-led government under Hajiji.

       Ayub said this was also important for the well-being of the state during the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “I am also in full support of Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak’s (former chief minister) call to strengthen GRS so that it would be the official political entity for Sabah, just like GPS in Sarawak, with its own proper symbol and all,” he said.

       He said the strengthening of GRS would help Sabah have greater bargaining power in Parliament and fight for rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

       However, he said it would take great political will to see GRS strengthened.

       “Let us take the first step to see this happen,” Ayub said.

       The ruling GRS coalition in the state comprises Sabah Barisan Nasional (Sabah Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah PBRS, MCA and MIC), Sabah Perikatan (Bersatu Sabah, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party SAPP, Sabah PAS, and Gerakan) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).