PH stands firm with Hajiji’s GRS from day one—Fuziah fires back at Loke
PETALING JAYA: PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh defends her claim that Pakatan Harapan would participate in Sabah’s state government, saying the coalition has consistently supported Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Hajiji Noor. She told FMT that PH’s stance has been clear: back a state administration aligned with Putrajaya under the Madani framework.
“PH has remained steadfast in backing Hajiji from the start. The Sabah election results do not alter PH’s position in supporting a government that is in sync with the federal administration,” she asserted.
Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook criticized Fuziah for announcing, on polling night, that PH would join the Sabah state government without prior notice to the party. Loke emphasized that DAP was unaware of the press conference and that PKR, which won only one seat in Sabah on Nov 29, should not decide the formation of the state government—the party with the most seats, namely GRS, should announce it.
Fuziah had held a press conference on election night, claiming that PH and GRS had secured the numbers needed to form Sabah’s new government. In Sabah, PH won a single seat—Melalap, contested by a PKR candidate—while DAP lost all eight seats it contested. By contrast, GRS won 29 seats and allied with PH, Barisan Nasional, Upko, and five independents to form the state administration.
Key points to note:
- PH’s support for Hajiji and GRS has been portrayed as consistent from the outset.
- The clash centers on who had the mandate to publicly announce the formation of the state government.
- The coalition dynamics involved GRS’s 29 seats forming a coalition with PH, BN, Upko, and independents to govern Sabah.
Controversial angle to consider: Does a unilateral public declaration on election night risk bypassing parties with fewer seats but with significant influence within the alliance? What are the implications for inter-party trust and coalition discipline in future state-level negotiations?
What’s your take on the proper protocol for announcing government formation when multiple blocs are negotiating—should the party with the most seats always lead the announcement, or should a joint statement be issued by the coalition as a whole? Share your views in the comments.
