Zahid maintained that BN and PH’s cooperation was “locked in” following an agreement made at the federal level.

“We have already finalised our collaboration with PH, which means that both BN and PH have been locked in as partners for the Sabah state election.

“Meanwhile, PH and GRS have also finalised the cooperation between them,” he said when met on the sidelines of an event at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre here.

This indicates that BN and GRS are likely to clash in the upcoming state election.

On Sunday, GRS chairman Hajiji Noor announced that the Sabah ruling coalition and PH had agreed to form an alliance in the election.

He said seat negotiations had commenced and a basic formula established, with several “minor matters” needing to be finalised.

Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud later confirmed that Sabah PH’s components had also agreed to the pact.

In May, the head of the unity government’s secretariat, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki of Umno, and PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that BN and PH would work together in the state election.

Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin later said the coalition would not work with GRS in the election, but would only consider cooperation after the outcome of the polls.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had, however, hoped that all three coalitions would be able to work together for the polls.

Sabah Umno and GRS used to be allies in the state government, but Bung led a failed attempt to unseat Hajiji in January 2023 by retracting support for the chief minister.

Hajiji remained as chief minister with the backing of PH, which is now part of the state government. Umno sits in the opposition with Warisan.