Suhaimi Nasir said his party and the coalition have strong grassroots support, Daily Express reported.

Their allies in the opposition, meanwhile, would be able to woo urban and rural voters, he said.

Suhaimi said this in response to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Hajiji Noor’s claim that he was not intimidated by the prospect of an alliance between Warisan and Sabah Umno in the next state elections.

Suhaimi, who is the Sabah Umno information chief, said his party’s participation in the polls was an “internal matter” and was of no concern to outsiders.

He went on to say that Hajiji should focus on administering the state instead of local politics.

“Overthinking may result in the government failing to address issues faced by the people, just as GRS has done,” the Libaran MP was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, Hajiji said he was undaunted by the prospect of Warisan and Umno Sabah joining forces, saying “they have tried to rattle me many times but we have triumphed.” GRS heads a state government formed in 2020 with the backing of Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and minor parties.

Warisan and Umno are widely expected to team up for the elections in a bid to oust Hajiji after a failed attempt last year. However, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said last week that no decision had been made on any electoral pact.

GRS, Umno and Warisan are part of the unity government at the federal level but in Sabah, some Umno assemblymen, including Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin and Warisan representatives, sit on the opposition bench in the state assembly.

The term of the current Sabah government will expire in October 2025, but Hajiji has hinted at the possibility of the next state elections being held earlier.