GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) members split from Bersatu for the sake of the state and country.

GRS secretary-general Masidi Manjun said this following the departure of his coalition members from Muhyiddin Yassin’s party.

He said this was due to the increasingly racial and religious rhetorics of some peninsula-based parties in the run-up to the general election, which he said was inconsistent with the values of multiracial and multireligious Sabah and Sarawak. 

“Many tend to forget that many Sabah and Sarawak families are made up of people of different faiths,” he said in a statement today.

Earlier, GRS chairman Hajiji Noor said leaders in the Sabah coalition had unanimously decided to quit Bersatu after considering the political landscape, especially that of Sabah. 

He said GRS and Barisan Nasional had taken the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to form a unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for political stability and economic recovery. 

“This unanimous decision is in the interest of Sabah, for unity and to achieve the aspirations of the people for us to continue fighting under the auspices of a local party. 

“GRS will voice the interests the states of Borneo in Malaysia.  

“We believe this decision is the best for unity and political stability in Sabah,” he said. 

Masidi said the unity government best represents an administration that looks after the welfare of  all Malaysians while protecting the positions of Islam, Bumiputras and West Malaysia.

“It’s difficult for GRS, or for that matter, many Sabah people, to accept ‘political Islam’.

“As a Muslim I am proud of my religion but I do not think any party can claim to be a genuine representative of this great religion.”

He said Islam is a universal religion that is inclusive and respectful of all beliefs and cultures.

“It is a religion of compassion and humanity that respects the rights of others, including that of minorities. 

“Multiethnic and multireligious Sabah people have lived in harmony for centuries. Inter-marriages are common. We don’t identify ourselves by our ethnicity or religion.

“We honestly think we are the best Malaysians.”

He said that GRS will support any leader or coalition who commits to the preservation of the Malaysian way of life and that is why it is fully behind Anwar. – December 10, 2022.