KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has confirmed it stayed out of Sunday's (March 13) launch of Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (Parti KDM) led by former Parti Warisan leader Datuk Peter Anthony.

       The party said its president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili did not attend the launch by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       "We did not send a representative because all PBS divisions are currently busy with preparations for the party's annual general assembly," PBS said in a statement Monday (March 14).

       The statement came after Ongkili cautioned partners in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) that they should not rush to take new partners into the coalition, which was officially registered by the Registrar of Societies on Friday (March 11).

       GRS, a loose coalition of 10 parties from Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional as well as PBS, took over the state government from Warisan Plus after the September 2020 snap state elections.

       On Sunday, Hajiji announced that the coalition was already registered and details of its line-up would be announced soon.

       It was still unclear whether or not the parties involved would join on behalf of their respective coalitions or as individual entities.

       Peter had said earlier that Parti KDM would be friendly to GRS.

       Meanwhile, Pintasan assemblyman Fairuz Renddan said GRS would now have its own "identity" following the registration and be able to work as one for the development of Sabah.

       "GRS will be more focused and stronger in moving and working as one. It will definitely get stronger day by day," said Fairuz, who is Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Youth chief.