Armizan said GRS had previously decided against entertaining the insults levelled by its detractors as it wanted to focus on administering the state.

He said this focus on governance meant that GRS’s rivals had been able to “run ahead” in their criticism.

“Now the race is wide open and it’s our time to run,” he said in a Facebook post.

“Previously, we were the ones being pressed to respond – now it’s time for us to ask them to respond.”

Armizan reminded voters that the opposition had once formed the state government and was part of the federal government in the past, where some of its leaders served as chief ministers and federal ministers.

“And in some instances, they are still part of the federal government,” he said in a veiled dig at Umno.

Umno and Barisan Nasional are part of the unity government at the federal level, but the opposition in the state.

Armizan said GRS was not without flaws, adding however that it was sincere about wanting to develop Sabah.

“GRS is not perfect, and there is much that needs to be improved. We cannot solve every issue at once but the truth is, no one before us was perfect, either – many of the problems were inherited,” he said, adding that the coalition had “walked the talk”.

Armizan also said he would leave it to the people to decide who to trust, expressing confidence that Sabahans could tell the difference between fact-based arguments and rhetoric.

Yesterday, chief minister Hajiji Noor announced that Yang di-Pertua Negeri Juhar Mahiruddin had consented to dissolve the state assembly, paving the way for the 17th Sabah state election to be held within 60 days.