KOTA KINABALU – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will defend all 39 seats it currently holds in the upcoming state election, according to the coalition's Women's Chief, Datuk Seri Azizah Dun.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the GRS Women's Wing meeting at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) here, Azizah expressed confidence that the coalition's cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) would not negatively impact its electoral prospects.
Commitment to Retain Seats
Azizah stated:
✔ GRS will defend all 39 seats won in the previous election
✔ Women representatives expected to retain their constituencies
✔ Cooperation with PH remains unchanged per GRS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun's announcement
"For now, we will stick to the state-level decision – GRS is only cooperating with PH," she said when asked about potential compromises with Barisan Nasional (BN).
On Anti-Bullying Measures
Azizah, a former magistrate and Deputy Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development, also addressed bullying concerns:
✔ Stronger enforcement needed for anti-bullying laws
✔ Proper reporting systems must be established to protect victims
✔ Comprehensive studies required to understand root causes in schools/workplaces
"Without an effective system, victims won't come forward, and laws become meaningless," she stressed, highlighting bullying's disproportionate impact on women.
Current Seat Distribution
GRS (8 component parties): 39 seats
PH: 7 seats
The statement follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent call for GRS, PH, and BN to avoid three-cornered fights in Sabah's 73 state seats.