Dr Janathan Kandok
KOTA KINABALU: A Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) leader has emphasised the critical need for strong cooperation among all eight component parties under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition ahead of the upcoming state election.
“With solid cooperation, GRS is well-positioned to perform strongly. A victory will not come as a surprise because GRS remains the best choice for the people of Sabah,” said Tandem Gagasan Rakyat Division Chief Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok.
He said the GRS-Pakatan Harapan (PH) partnership, in power since 2020, has been focused on delivering the people’s mandate. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor, Sabah is enjoying a period of political and economic stability like never before.
“GRS leaders are proactive. We don’t sit idle when issues arise. We respond with urgency and purpose,” he added.
Dr Janathan dismissed suggestions that recent developments would undermine public confidence in the coalition government. He acknowledged that the opposition would likely continue highlighting long-standing infrastructure issues, such as water and electricity supply, but insisted these problems predate GRS.
“Don’t pin the blame on the current government. These issues have existed for decades. What’s important is that the GRS-PH Government is taking real steps to solve them,” he said.
He cited the 187-Megawatt Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project (UPHEP) as a key initiative reflecting the Government’s commitment to long-term solutions. The project, expected to be completed by the end of 2030, will generate an average of 1,052 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean energy annually, boosting Sabah’s dependable capacity by around 15 per cent.
“It will also double Sabah’s renewable energy mix and support our goal of achieving a 35 per cent renewable share in electricity generation by 2035,” said Dr Janathan.
On political cooperation, Dr Janathan said there was no compelling reason for GRS to abandon its current collaboration with PH.
“Some suggest we should adopt Sarawak’s model of an all-local coalition, but having a reliable national partner like PH does not mean we are compromising on Sabah’s rights. In fact, such collaboration can strengthen GRS’ position,” he explained.
Hajiji has reiterated on several occasions that GRS intends to maintain its partnership with PH. He has also said that Sabah is not yet in a position to emulate Sarawak’s move toward a fully local coalition.
“In politics, cooperation is vital. That is the essence of GRS. We must work together, including with national parties operating in Sabah,” said Hajiji.
Dr Janathan also welcomed the recent remarks by acting Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who reaffirmed PBS’ commitment to remaining within the GRS coalition.
