KOTA KINABALU, Jan 5 — All state assemblymen from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) today reiterated their support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to continue leading the state.

PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the party and its assemblymen remained solidly behind Hajiji and there was no need for a vote of confidence on the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman in the Sabah State Assembly.

"I am 110 per cent sure PBS still supports the leadership of Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (as Chief Minister). I think there is no necessity (for vote of confidence) but if it is required I'm sure we will win," he said here today.

Joachim, who is Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, told reporters this when asked to comment on the latest political developments regarding the state government.

Yesterday, GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said GRS was prepared to prove that Hajiji still commanded majority support in the state assembly following reports that certain parties were claiming to have secured enough support to form a new state government.

STAR deputy president Datuk Ellron Angin also made clear the party’s support for Hajiji.

"As far as STAR is concerned, our ADUN are all for Datuk Hajiji. We are faithful to him," he said.

PBS and STAR are component parties of GRS, which also includes Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).

The Sabah State Assembly has 79 assemblymen — 73 of whom were elected and six appointed.

The Sabah government now has the support of 59 assemblymen comprising 29 from GRS, Barisan Nasional (17), Pakatan Harapan (seven), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (three), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (one), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (one) and one independent assemblyman. — Bernama