In a joint statement, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), and United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) said Hajiji’s legitimacy as chief minister remains intact as he continued to hold the majority support of the state assembly.

“GRS appreciates the support from other assemblymen for Hajiji to remain as chief minister.

“It is our responsibility to respect the people’s mandate from the last state election.

“Any motion to form a back door government is an act of betrayal of the people’s mandate and should be rejected,” they said.

The statement was signed by PBS president Maximus Ongkili, STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan, SAPP president Yong Teck Lee and Usno president Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Last night, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno retracted their support for Hajiji on the grounds he violated a pact with BN, PBS and Perikatan Nasional (PN) after the state elections in September 2020.

State BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin said the BN-Umno decision left Hajiji without a majority in the state assembly, adding that he “is no longer fit to be the chief minister”.

However, GRS secretary-general Masidi Manjun insisted that the coalition continues to hold the majority as six Sabah Umno representatives did not agree with Bung Moktar’s decision to withdraw support for Hajiji.

GRS, led by Hajiji, has 29 seats in the state assembly. A simple majority of 40 seats in the 79-member state assembly is needed to form a new government.