KOTA KINABALU: The newly-launched Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has the blessings of Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, but the coalition’s position in the state remains unclear ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15).

       In a Facebook post, Muhyiddin, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, congratulated Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is Sabah Bersatu chairman, on the launch.

       “The establishment of GRS, which also includes two other Perikatan parties – Sabah STAR and Sabah Progressive party (SAPP) – is expected to fulfil the aspirations of the Sabah people.

       “It will drive progress and development in Sabah to be more vibrant and sustainable,” the former prime minister said in the post following the launch of the five-party GRS state coalition on May 28.

       The coalition also includes Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).

       Other members of Sabah Perikatan, Sabah PAS and Gerakan, are not part of GRS, which leads the state government with Sabah Barisan Nasional.

       Political observers said Bersatu’s presence in GRS raises questions of whether Perikatan remains a political entity in Sabah, especially with one of its members, PAS, holding a nominated state assembly seat.

       “It looks like Sabah Bersatu is adapting itself under GRS. This is a question that is yet to be made clear by its leaders.

       “It is important for clear lines to be drawn as it will spell out future relations with Barisan,” a political analyst, who preferred to remain anonymous, said yesterday.

       He explained that Bersatu’s presence in GRS might change the current political arrangement between Sabah Umno/Barisan and the coalition.

       The analyst noted that at the national level, Umno and Bersatu had gone their separate ways in the recent Melaka and Johor state elections.

       “This could be the case for Sabah, especially when a general election is called,” he said.

       State Bersatu leaders have been saying that Bersatu in Sabah is a local political entity with autonomy , while they remain with Perikatan at the national level.

       The analyst said Sabah Umno also had autonomy at the state level and its chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state Barisan chairman, has made it clear that he would follow the party’s directive when it came to the national alliance.

       “For now, the state government under GRS-Barisan will remain, but alignments may change once GE15 is called,” he added.