He said the party, which is also known as Gagasan Rakyat, was accepted as a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) member on Dec 9.

Hajiji is also the chairman of GRS, the ruling coalition in Sabah.

On Dec 10, Hajiji, who was then the Sabah Bersatu chief, announced that Sabah Bersatu leaders and their supporters were leaving the party but would remain with GRS.

It was previously rumoured the group would take over Gagasan Rakyat instead of forming a new party.

Speaking to reporters at a GRS event here, Hajiji confirmed that Gagasan Rakyat is an existing party that he was now taking over.

“After this, there will no longer be any disputes about my position as chief minister,” he said.

“What is important is that I have received the support of the majority of the state assembly members as chief minister now that I am leading Gagasan Rakyat.”

On Dec 10, Hajiji said Bersatu leaders in Sabah had quit the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party and would form a new local party.

Then the Sabah Bersatu chief, he said that while GRS had pledged its support for Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government at the federal level, Bersatu is in the opposition.

On Jan 6, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin tried to oust Hajiji as chief minister by announcing that Sabah Umno was withdrawing its support for him.

However, Hajiji said he had secured majority support from the state’s assemblymen, including five from Umno and seven from Pakatan Harapan.

Hajiji has since dropped Bung from his state Cabinet in a reshuffle. Following the Sabah state elections in September 2020, Bung was named one of three deputy chief ministers and also the state works minister.

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