GRS reaffirms 'Sabah First' stand, urges inter-governmental model for federal-state relations
Armizan placing his hand on a tablet to symbolically open the conference on Sunday.
KOTA KINABALU (June 22): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has reaffirmed that the relationship between the Federal and State Governments must be based on an inter-governmental model — not driven by intra-party dynamics — to ensure Sabah's interests remain front and centre.
Its deputy secretary-general, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said the coalition remains open to cooperation with national parties, including in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election, but maintained that local parties must form the core of the State Government.
Speaking after officiating the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Darau Division's annual conference on Sunday, Armizan emphasised that the political model promoted by GRS does not reject national party alliances. Instead, it advocates a structure where local parties lead at the state level, while working in partnership with national parties forming the Federal Government.
'The GRS model is about safeguarding Sabah's interests. If the same national party dominates both federal and state levels, issues involving Sabah tend to be discussed internally within the party, behind closed doors, before even reaching the negotiation table,' said Armizan, who is also the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.
He warned that intra-party decision-making risks prioritising party interests over state welfare, citing examples where party loyalty in some national parties outweighed the needs of the people.
As a case in point, he referred to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which was sidelined for decades due to party-driven federal politics.
'Only under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did we begin to see genuine federal commitment to MA63. But we cannot rely on individual leadership alone. What Sabah needs is a structured, institutional approach that ensures continuity beyond political cycles,' he said.
Armizan said while GRS supports the national agenda, it must be led by the Federal Government, whereas the State Government must be empowered to put Sabah's priorities first.
'This is the philosophy behind our core principle — Sabah First. It ensures that the state agenda remains front and centre,' he stressed.
With the state election approaching, Armizan made GRS's goal clear: to lead the State Government while supporting a Federal Government led by national parties.
'We welcome cooperation with national parties in the coming state election — provided they acknowledge that local parties should lead in Sabah, contest more seats, and have the mandate to govern.'
He said the GRS-Pakatan Harapan Plus model reflects this approach, where national parties govern at the federal level, while local parties lead at the state level.
'Let national parties form the Federal Government — we will support and work with them. But in Sabah, local parties must lead. That's the essence of real partnership — a model that respects state autonomy while upholding national unity.'
Armizan concluded by stressing that formalised government-to-government (G2G) engagement is key to ensuring state issues like MA63 are no longer sidelined.
'This is not just a GRS idea — it's what Sabah needs. A formalised inter-governmental framework is the only way to ensure our voices are heard, regardless of who governs Putrajaya.'
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