KOTA KINABALU, March 2 — With the launch of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that the state government is now in optimum position to fight for their local agenda.

Having quit en bloc from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia to Gagasan Rakyat, Hajiji said that a fully local entity was the appropriate channel to lead the state without being beholden to any national parties.

"Previously we were Bersatu in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition. Many people said how different it is from Sarawak. So now we are all local parties in GRS. It’s up to the people to perceive but we have responded to the people’s aspirations for a truly local platform,” he said.

He said it was his vision, and those of other leaders like Parti Bersatu Sabah’s founder Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, to have a united Sabah-led coalition and likened the party to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak, with a local anchor.

GRS now consists of Gagasan Rakyat, PBS, Parti Solidarity Tanah Airku, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Usno.

Hajiji, who was formerly Sabah’s Bersatu chief, announced after GE15 that they would quit the national coalition en bloc. It stirred controversy given that four of its MPs were regarded as still part of Bersatu.

Hajiji, who is Sulaman assemblyman led the party to take over Gagasan Rakyat instead.

Hajiji said that he hoped long-term goals like state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), could finally be implemented under the new platform.

Having changed parties twice since holding the post of chief minister, he said it was expected that his latest decision in politics would invite criticism.

"I am used to being criticised and condemned but I choose to keep quiet and not respond. I also told my supporters not to respond,” Hajiji said, adding that the results at the end of the day would speak for itself.