Gabungan Rakyat Sabah expected to reveal CM pick later today

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 27 — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) parties are expected to make an announcement this afternoon over the candidate for the Sabah chief minister post after a meeting.

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Jeffery Kitingan, when met at the Magellan Sutera Resort, hinted at an announcement being made at noon. 

“Just wait for us here at 12 o’clock,” he said briefly.

Umno vice presidents Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Sabah Barisan chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, and Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak were spotted arriving for the meeting.

Shortly later, Sabah Perikatan Nasional chief Datuk Hajiji Noor, Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu deputy president Datuk Masidi Manjun, Sabah Bersatu Srikandi chief Datuk Azizah Dun were also spotted entering a room where the meeting was being held.

Kitingan said the GRS parties would be discussing the chief ministerial candidate at the meeting and expects the new chief minister to be sworn in by today.

When asked if the meeting will be attended by Barisan Nasional (BN), Jeffrey said: "I suppose everybody."

As of 9.50am, however, only Jeffrey and STAR's newly elected state assemblymen were seen at a foyer next to the meeting room.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had previously proposed that Sabah Perikatan Nasional chief Datuk Hajiji Noor helm the state should GRS win the state poll.

Soon after GRS unofficially claimed victory last night, Perikatan Nasional leaders met among themselves for five hours, allegedly over the new chief minister candidate but BN and Parti Bersatu Sabah leaders were absent.

Meanwhile, at 8.20am, the state’s Broadcasting Department quoted Abinan Asli, private secretary of the Sabah governor, as saying the palace would not hold a swearing-in ceremony today.

This was contradictory to Hajiji's remark where he said GRS's new chief minister will be sworn in today.