KOTA KINABALU, May 21 — The next Sabah state election could turn into a "free-for-all" due to disagreements among parties trying to form alliances, said GRS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

The Kiulu assemblyman said his coalition must be prepared for any eventuality, including contesting independently, as indicated by Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

“A free-for-all could be a blessing in disguise, as such a scenario would allow Sabahans to choose between a coalition of local parties and those led by Peninsular-based parties,” he said during a meet-the-people session in Kampung Tibabar here.

GRS currently leads the state government in partnership with Sabah Pakatan Harapan, while Sabah Barisan Nasional has been in the opposition since withdrawing its support in early 2023.

Recently, Hajiji said that GRS was ready and willing to contest the election on its own. This followed an announcement by PH and BN of their pact to work together in the upcoming election, a move many observers described as a deliberate snub to GRS.

Bangkuai, who also serves as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief, said GRS has demonstrated that local-based coalitions are capable of delivering meaningful development while maintaining a close working relationship with the federal government.

He said the GRS-PH state government currently enjoys a cordial working relationship with Putrajaya under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.

He also pointed to the annual federal special grant, which he said increased from RM53 million when Warisan was in power to RM600 million under GRS.

“Another example is the signing of the Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) between the GRS-led state government and Petronas, which has shored up the state's revenue,” Bangkuai stated.

He reiterated that the current scenario has benefited Sabah, citing increased annual revenue of RM6.9 billion and state reserves close to RM8 billion.“We are not anti-federal, but we believe Sabah must lead itself, with leaders not bound by outside instructions," he affirmed.

"GRS is proof that Sabah can work maturely with Putrajaya and still prioritise the people of Sabah above all.”