KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Pakatan Harapan's United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) assemblymen are giving their support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) to continue governing the state.
Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick, who led the courtesy visit to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, said they would keep supporting GRS-BN until the term ends in 2025.
Ewon, who is Upko incoming president, said they had discussed several matters, including the participation and support of GRS in the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as the participation of Sabah PH assemblymen in the state government.
"Sabah PH assemblymen welcome the support of GRS in the federal unity government as announced by the prime minister today.
"Sabah PH assemblymen also expressed their support for Hajiji and will continue to cooperate with the state government to ensure that the development agenda and the struggle for Sabah's rights can be achieved together."
Ewon expressed his gratitude to Hajiji for agreeing to involve PH assemblymen in the District Action Committee and District Land Use Committee meetings starting next year.
"For me and Sabah PH assemblymen, we do not want too much politics to affect the stability of the government.
"At the federal level, we are forming a unity government and the same approach can be implemented in Sabah," he said.
Also in the entourage were assemblymen Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang), Jannie Lasimbang (Kapayan), Peto Galim (Inanam) and Tan Lee Fatt (Likas).
When asked whether there would be changes in the state government, Phoong said the state government had been given the people's mandate to lead as a GRS-BN government during the state polls in 2020.
"It is very difficult for us to do another round of number games, SD (statutory declaration) games.
"Since we (PH) are part of the ruling federal government, we demand fair and democratic treatment at the state level. Although PH is the opposition (in the state government).
"We have to understand the new norms of Sabah politics."