Hajiji said GRS has consistently held that local Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government, without sidelining the important role national parties play in the larger political framework.

The Sabah chief minister said this was because local parties had a better understanding of the realities, cultures and needs of Sabahans.

“If PH and BN’s decision to cooperate for the state election is final, then GRS is ready to go solo and focus on working with other local parties.

“To stray from this principle would mean neglecting the aspirations of the majority of Sabahans,” he said in a statement.

Hajiji said GRS’s struggle was for political stability and the people’s welfare, and that he had consistently repeated that the current GRS-PH state government needed to be strengthened.

He said this was because his state government represented a form of cooperation that has contributed to the overall strength of the federal unity government.

“To sideline local aspirations in the context of Sabah’s political landscape would not be in line with the people’s sentiments at the grassroots level.”

Hajiji said GRS’s top leadership will meet soon to set its direction for the state polls. He will also hold formal discussions with parties in the state administration to get their views on the issue.

GRS and PH are currently allies in Hajiji’s government, while BN sits in the opposition in the state assembly with Warisan. All four parties are allies in the federal government.

Earlier, the unity government secretariat announced that BN and PH have agreed to work together for the Sabah state election, which must be held before the year ends.

This followed a meeting between PH and BN chairmen, Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.