Gabungan Rakyat Sabah

On 12 September 2020, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin established the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah to compete against Shafie Apdal's ruling Warisan Plus coalition consisting of Parti Warisan Sabah, the Democratic Action Party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, and the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation during the 2020 Sabah state election. The GRS alliance consisted of Muhyiddin's Perikatan Nasional coalition, the Barisan Nasional coalition, and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).[2]

During the Sabah state election held on 26 September, the GRS coalition won a simple majority in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, winning a total of 38 seats: 17 for Perikatan Nasional, 14 for Barisan Nasional, and seven for PBS.[3] Sabah Perikatan Nasional chairman Hajiji Noor became the new Chief Minister of Sabah on 29 September.[4]

On 9 January 2021, the various leaders of the GRS component parties signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate cooperation among its members and to reject any form of external interference that would disrupt the coalition. Signatories included Chief Minister Hajiji, Deputy Chief Minister and Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Bung Moktar Radin, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee, Homeland Solidarity Party deputy president Ellron Alfred Angin, Parti Bersatu Sabah deputy president Datuk Seri Radin Malleh, Sabah PAS secretary Dr Aliakbar Gulasan, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Arthur Joseph Kurup, Sabah Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chairman Peer Muhamad and Sabah Malaysian Chinese Association chairman Lu Yen Tung. In the occasion Sabah CM claimed that GRS should not be influenced by political events in Peninsular Malaysia.[5][6]

In January 2021, Sabah state government under GRS initiated a strategic 5-year plan which was named after the state slogan, Sabah Maju Jaya. It emphasised harmony with the federal government's Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.[7]

On 21 March 2021, Federal Government of Perikatan Nasional has confirmed to fully backs Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to lead the state (with alliance autonomy given) and will give due attention to its development needs. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this support and relation fostered between both the state and federal governments allowed the Sabah Government to function to its best ability.

On 24 November 2021, Datuk Salleh Said Keruak, the Club Backbenchers Chairperson of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), express to registered & formalised the coalition under Societies Act 1966 in Registrar of Societies (ROS), to stabilise the Sabah government political views.[8]

On 25 November 2021, most of all GRS leaders agreed with Datuk Salleh Said Keruak statement to formalised & registered this coalition as "political coalition party". The leaders that agreed include Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR), Datuk Masidi Manjun (PPBM), Datuk Aliakbar Gulasan (PAS), Datuk Yong Teck Lee (SAPP), Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (UMNO), and other parties president as well.[9][10][11]

On 26 November 2021, Sabah State Assemblyman for Kiulu division, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai stated that all PBS leadership agreed and wanted the coalition not only formalized but registered as a legitimate coalition entity of political parties in Sabah to avoid clashes and strengthen the political views of the Sabah People's Coalition (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) supporters.[12][13]