KOTA KINABALU: Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) is leaving Gabungan Sabah (GS) to carry on its struggle on its own.
HR president Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said he had informed GS leaders about the decision.
“GS is not a registered (coalition). It is a four-party election pact for four local parties to fight for Sabah’s rights, such as autonomy, oil royalty and Malaysian Agreement 1963.
“I have relayed our decision to GS chairman Mohd Noor Mansoor, Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah, which is led by Mohd Arshad Abdul Mualap.
“However, I have yet to reach Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan,” he said after chairing the party supreme council meeting here.
Of the four parties, only Star won seats in the 14th General Election – two state and one parliamentary.
With regards to the possibility of HR joining Gabungan Bersatu, he said this would require HR members to join Star.
So, for now, Lajim said, HR would stay on its own in the opposition to play a check-and-balance role on the new government at the federal and state levels.
Lajim said the party, which was founded on Oct 25 two years ago, wouldstart holding its conferences in August.