Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah’s (Gagasan Rakyat) Lumadan division chief Mazlan Joehari Manan said the coalition must take the lead in seat negotiations, regardless of the alliances formed for the election.

“GRS must remain dominant in seat allocations and continue to champion the rights of the people through the Sabah government,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying on Monday.

Previously, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan suggested that GRS contest all 73 seats to maintain its dominance.

He also reaffirmed STAR’s stance that only local parties should contest the state polls, without the involvement of national parties.

However, Kitingan, who is also GRS deputy chairman, said that any decision regarding GRS’s political collaborations would only be made in a meeting scheduled after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Mazlan said despite its political collaborations, GRS might still clash with its allies in certain constituencies due to unresolved seat negotiations.

He said the best solution would be to allow “friendly contests” among coalition members and allies if no agreement is reached on seats.

“We must also stand firm in ensuring that the seats allocated to GRS remain contested by GRS,” he said.