KOTA KINABALU, Dec 10 — Sabah’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leaders are leaving the party in order to be a full local coalition under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, its chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor said.

In a statement this morning, the chief minister said that they will eventually form a new local party but for now would be known as GRS.

Hajiji said that they made the unanimous decision to leave Bersatu after considering Malaysia’s current political landscape and taking into consideration the Agong’s advice for the formation of a unity government at federal level.

"This unanimous decision is in the interest of Sabah, for the sake of unity and to fulfil the rakyat’s wish and aspiration for us to fight and struggle under the auspices of a local party.

"With this decision, we will now use Gabungan Rakyat Sabah to voice out Sabah’s interests and that of the Borneon states in Malaysia,” said Hajiji.

Hajiji said that he was confident this was the right decision for political unity and stability in Sabah.

"Moving forward, we will form a new local party but in the meantime we will collectively be members of GRS.

"Bersatu Sabah’s leadership decision to leave is based on the premise that the situation is no longer tenable to remain in the status quo. This is because at the federal level Bersatu is in the opposition whilst GRS has pledged support to the unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"We pledge our full support to the unity government and we are confident of Anwar’s leadership and wisdom to lead the country,” said Hajiji.

Hajiji said that the state government helmed by GRS and Barisan Nasional wanted to ensure economic recovery and that its aspirations of the Borneo Bloc to see that the Malaysia Agreement or MA63 will be fully implemented.

"Sabah wants political stability and unity. We want to ensure momentum in Sabah’s growth and development and to see that Sabah prospers in accordance with the mandate given to us in the last elections,” he said.

He thanked Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for his leadership during the last four years since they joined the party.

Hajiji’s statement comes following Parti Solidarity Tanah Airku (STAR)’s exit from the national coalition.

He did not name any leaders who will be part of the exit.

In the recent elections (GE15), Bersatu candidates ran under the GRS logo, except for one - Beluran MP Datuk Ronald Kiandee who ran under a Perikatan Nasional ticket.

Sabah Bersatu has six MPs and 15 state assemblymen out of 79.