KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili has today refuted claims that Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor no longer possessed the legitimacy as the Sabah-based coalition’s chairman to sign a memorandum of understanding with the current national unity federal government.
Ongkili said this in response to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia vice president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee who had yesterday claimed it was not valid for Hajiji to ink the MoU since the latter had quit Bersatu.
Citing a GRS supreme council meeting that took place on December 9, Ongkili said several decisions were made including retaining Hajiji as the coalition’s chairman.
“I as GRS deputy president had chaired a meeting on December 9.
“In the meeting it was also decided to discontinue the membership of Bersatu as a component party in GRS.
“Lastly, the meeting also decided to have GRS participate in the national unity government formation for the sake of stability and national development,” he said in a statement here.
Therefore, Ongkili said neither Kiandee nor his party has a direct relationship on the MoU signed whose principles and objectives were ultimately rejected by Bersatu.
Yesterday Kiandee said Sabah Bersatu was the founder of GRS and with Hajiji out of the party, he could no longer function as the chairman.
The Sabah Bersatu chief further claimed Hajiji was now only an ordinary GRS member.
Kiandee said Hajiji’s position as GRS chairman had to be reevaluated and decided upon once more by GRS supreme council members.
On December 16, the coalitions in the national unity government signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration in all matters of confidence and supply, effectively guaranteeing its stability.
The coalitions were Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, while Parti Warisan also signed on as an individual party.
