KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has evicted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) from the Sabah-based coalition.
GRS deputy chairman Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the decision was made after he chaired the GRS supreme council meeting on Dec 9.
The other GRS members present were Parti Bersatu Sabah, United Sabah Nasional Organisation, Sabah Progressive Party and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku.
"The meeting was also held and decided to retain Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as chairman of the GRS.
"(It is also to decide) on joining the (federal) unity government based on the commitment to build a stable administration for the wellbeing of the people and the development of the nation," he said in a statement.
Yesterday, Sabah Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee questioned the legitimacy of Hajiji as GRS chairman after he quit Bersatu.
The Kota Marudu member of parliament also said that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with other parties to work with the federal unity government was invalid.
Ongkili, who is also PBS president, said Kiandee and his party have no link with the agreement.
GRS was formed in September 2020 as an informal alliance to take on the Warisan Plus coalition comprising Parti Warisan Sabah, DAP, PKR and UPKO in the 2020 Sabah state election.
In the September 26 state polls, GRS won a simple majority in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, winning 38 seats: 17 for Perikatan Nasional, 14 for Barisan Nasional, and seven for PBS.