State PAS commissioner Aliakbar Gulasan said while the party remains part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, it was open to discussions for political cooperation ahead of the polls.

Speaking to FMT, Aliakbar said PAS was ready to contest under the banner of any coalition it partners with.

“We are looking for suitable partners who share our principles,” he said.

“Honestly, I must say that Sabah under Hajiji’s leadership has been excellent compared to previous chief ministers. My colleagues and I in PAS are open to supporting GRS.”

He added that PAS hopes to contest at least six out of the 73 state seats up for grabs – primarily in Muslim-majority constituencies – and emphasised that any candidate fielded must prioritise Sabah’s development.

“PAS could become a kingmaker for any political partner we work with,” he said.

There are a total of 79 seats in the state assembly, six of which are filled by appointment.

PAS has never won any state assembly seat in Sabah, although Aliakbar is one of the six nominated members.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said seat allocations had yet to be finalised but confirmed that the party was exploring cooperation with local entities, including GRS.

On Sunday, PAS deputy election director Annuar Musa said PN should support GRS in the upcoming Sabah polls as Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional had already announced their own alliance.

Annuar, a former Umno secretary-general, said PN should study the option of contesting under the GRS banner, or sit out the polls altogether.

Sabah PN chairman Ronald Kiandee however criticised Annuar for his comments, saying he should have brought the matter up at the coalition’s Supreme Council meeting before airing his views in public.

Kiandee said Sabah’s ever-shifting political landscape made it challenging for any party, including PN, to take a firm stance on alliances.