PBS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said the party’s Supreme Council had already decided at its last meeting that it would be sticking with GRS in the coming state election.

“PBS is guided by the decision of its Supreme Council and not by external parties.”

However, he appeared to hint that this stand could still change, if the PBS Supreme Council decides otherwise.

“All I can say is that the PBS Supreme Council, at its last meeting, had made a stand to stick with GRS.

“Any new decision has to be referred to the Supreme Council,” he told FMT.

This comes after the Daily Express quoted Kitingan, who is STAR president, as saying his party and PBS would go solo in the state polls instead of contesting under the GRS banner if seat demands were not met.

Kitingan contends that GRS has given up too many seats to Pakatan Harapan, with which it has an electoral pact.

The deputy chief minister also reportedly said at an event in Tambunan today that discussions were ongoing and a final decision “would only be known in the coming days”.

This appeared to contradict a Star report quoting Kitingan as confirming that STAR had left GRS over the alliance with PH, with an official announcement due “anytime today”.

The Sabah Progressive Party, led by Yong Teck Lee, was also reportedly set to follow in STAR’s footsteps.

Joniston, who is also GRS information chief, said he could not confirm that STAR had quit the coalition, adding that he had only read about it in news reports.

FMT has reached out to Kitingan and GRS secretary-general Masidi Manjun for comment.