TUARAN – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor’s presence at an official event by Umno here this morning has raised questions about what will happen in the upcoming Sabah election.
Hajiji, who is Sabah chief minister, was present at the Tuaran Umno delegates meeting today, which was also attended by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Interestingly, Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin was not seen at the meeting.
When delivering his speech, Zahid hinted that all parties should work together when facing the Sabah election.
“I was advised by my friends to reconsider coming to this event because of the presence of the Sabah chief minister and other friends in GRS as well as PH.
“But I thought, no matter who comes, they are all my friends.
“I took the risk to come to Tuaran but this does not mean that I am leaving any friends.
“To me, when it comes to your enemy, that is your matter – but your friends are also my friends.
“Back then we were friends, now we are enemies. In the future, maybe we can be friends again because politics is dynamic.
“What is important now is that political stability must become the priority for the welfare of the people, especially in Sabah,” he said.
Even though Umno, GRS, and Pakatan Harapan are under the unity government, Umno is the opposition party in Sabah after Bung’s move to withdraw support for the GRS state government in January 2023.
Currently, it appears clear – although unofficial – that Umno and GRS are not going to work hand in hand in the upcoming Sabah election because Umno and Sabah opposition Warisan are likely to be running against GRS and PH.
Besides Hajiji, the event was also attended by leaders from other parties, including Sabah PH chairman Datuk Cristina Liew and Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
Everyone stood during the Umno party anthem, and Liew was seen waving an Umno flag.
Tuaran Umno division chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan was also seen at the meeting.
Hajiji left the event after listening to Zahid and Rahman’s speeches.
It was learned that Rahman had sent the invitation to Hajiji and other GRS-PH leaders to the event.
This development has raised questions about whether GRS-PH and Umno will contest against each other in the upcoming Sabah election, due by September next year.
Hajiji’s political career growth was centred in the Umno Tuaran division from 1994 until 2018.
He left Umno to join Bersatu from 2019 to 2022 and joined Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah in January 2023.
Meanwhile, at a separate Umno division meeting in Sepanggar, Zahid told reporters that Bung was not present at the event in Tuaran as he was attending another programme this morning.
Zahid also explained Hajiji’s presence in Tuaran, pointing to their long-standing friendship.
“I took a softer approach in Tuaran just now because I have a principle that we should be friends with all parties….the decision (of which party Umno will work with for the upcoming Sabah election) will be announced when the time comes,” he said. – June 22, 2024