He was responding to reports that Upko plans to contest several GRS-held seats, including Limbahau, Kiulu and Tamparuli.

Masidi said negotiations between GRS and PH were conducted in good faith and must be respected by all parties, including Upko, which is part of the four-member Sabah PH coalition.

“Upko is part of PH. On that basis, we expect everyone to honour the agreement,” he was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post.

“If they don’t, then they are opening the door to an even wider free-for-all.

“For us in GRS, the seats that have been negotiated with PH are where we will place our candidates, regardless of whoever else contests.”

Upko secretary-general Nelson Angang had announced his intention to contest the Limbahau seat during the party’s Papar convention last month.

During the Tuaran convention, which was also held last month, the party proposed its honorary president Wilfred Madius Tangau as the candidate for Tamparuli and division deputy chief Joisin Romut for Kiulu.

Currently, the Limbahau seat is held by Juil Nuatim of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), Tamparuli by Jahid Jahim of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Kiulu by Joniston Bangkuai, also of PBS.

Masidi said GRS would stand firm on the seats decided through its discussions with PH, stressing that mutual respect for the agreement was crucial to maintain coalition unity.

Asked if he expected a free-for-all in the upcoming polls, Masidi said anything is possible in politics but hoped “common sense would prevail”.

“If you keep fighting each other, you are allowing parties who are not friendly to you to win.

“If we have decided to work as a team, then we should operate as a team.

“You cannot say you are a friend but at the same time stab someone in the back. Friendship, to my mind, doesn’t work that way.”