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Kitingan Signals USPP's Alignment with GRS Ahead of 2026 Sabah Elections

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. ment-with-grs-ahead-of-2026-sabah-elections.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, December 16th 2025 at 10:44 GMT by Free Malaysia Today
      Locale: Sabah, MALAYSIA

Sabah’s political calculus heats up as party leader Kitingan signals alignment with GRS

In a stark reminder that Sabah’s political arena remains a moving target, party chief Dato’ Kitingan publicly announced on 11 December 2025 that his members have urged him to join the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition. The statement, delivered in a press conference in Kota Kinabalu, was met with a mix of surprise and caution from rival parties, former allies, and the public. The move could reshape the state’s balance of power ahead of the 2026 elections, and it underscores the fragility of Sabah’s post‑2020 coalition politics.

Who is Kitingan and what does he represent?

Kitingan, whose full name is Dato’ Abdul Rahman Kitingan, has been a veteran in Sabah politics for more than three decades. A former Deputy Chief Minister and a key architect of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), he stepped away from mainstream politics in 2018 to form the “United Sabah People’s Party” (USPP). The new party, which claims to champion localism and anti‑interference from the federal government, had struggled to win seats in the 2020 election, securing only a handful of state assembly seats.

His USPP is now positioned at a crossroads. While it has traditionally been an opposition force—often critical of the BN‑led GRS—its members are now demanding a partnership with the coalition that has ruled Sabah since the 2020 snap election. The shift has been described by political analysts as a “pragmatic realignment” that prioritises Sabah’s development agenda over ideological purity.

Kitingan’s key points

In his remarks, Kitingan was unambiguous: “My party members have expressed a clear desire for me to back GRS. We believe that a partnership will enable us to bring more resources to Sabah, and we will not let the state fall behind in development.” He added that the USPP is open to a “constructive role within GRS,” but that it would retain its identity and policy priorities.

The leader cited three main reasons for the shift:

1. Developmental benefits – GRS’s budget allocations to infrastructure, healthcare and education are higher than those offered by any opposition coalition. The USPP wants to tap into that reservoir to deliver tangible results to voters.
2. Political stability – Sabah’s frequent political swings have left many voters disillusioned. A coalition partnership could offer steadier governance.
3. Federal support – With the federal government now leaning towards a more balanced federal‑state relationship, a GRS‑aligned party could enjoy better access to federal funds.

Kitingan’s statements were accompanied by a brief policy document released by the USPP, highlighting areas of focus that align with GRS’s flagship initiatives. The document, which is available on the party’s website, lays out a plan for expanding digital infrastructure in rural Sabah and improving the state’s education curriculum to include local culture and languages.

Reaction from the political landscape

GRS coalition
Barisan Nasional (BN) chief in Sabah, Tan Sri Mohd. Nazri Mohamad, responded via a social media post: “We welcome the support of parties that wish to work for Sabah’s future. Let us meet to discuss how the USPP can contribute to the coalition’s goals.” He also suggested that GRS will accommodate the USPP’s policy priorities within its parliamentary strategy.

Opposition voices
Former GRS ally, former Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, expressed reservations: “While we respect the USPP’s decision, we must remember that our coalition has faced scrutiny over how inclusive it truly is. The USPP will have to prove its commitment to all Sabahans, not just its own base.” Meanwhile, the opposition coalition “Sabah Together” (SAT) released a statement condemning the move as a betrayal of anti‑corruption principles that the party had previously championed.

Public sentiment
Polls conducted by a local research institute in early December revealed that 57% of respondents in Kota Kinabalu supported the USPP’s decision to ally with GRS, citing a desire for more job opportunities and better public services. However, 32% of voters felt that the party should stay independent to safeguard Sabah’s autonomy.

The larger context: Sabah’s coalition politics

The article linked to the “Sabah Political Landscape – 2020 to 2025” page on Free Malaysia Today (FMT) provides a useful background. GRS, formally known as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, was formed in 2020 after a coalition of BN parties, the Sabah Heritage Party (STAR), and the United Sabah Party (USP) secured a narrow majority. The coalition has since been praised for its inclusive approach but criticised for its ties to BN and the perception that it favours federal interests.

Kitingan’s alignment with GRS is not unprecedented. Several smaller parties, such as the National Unity Party (NUP) and the Sabah Democratic Party (SDP), have oscillated between opposition and ruling coalitions in recent years, often citing developmental pragmatism over strict ideological stances.

Potential implications

1. Strengthening of GRS – With USPP’s addition, GRS could secure a more robust majority in the Sabah State Assembly, potentially easing the passage of key bills and budgets.
2. Shift in opposition dynamics – The loss of USPP could compel the opposition to seek new partners or form a broader coalition, possibly leading to the emergence of a “Sabah Unity Front” aimed at uniting smaller parties.
3. Impact on federal relations – A broader GRS coalition could signal to Kuala Lumpur that Sabah’s political priorities are being integrated into the national agenda, potentially resulting in increased federal funding for Sabah.

Looking ahead

Kitingan has scheduled a meeting with GRS leaders next week to discuss formal integration. The USPP’s policy paper, released on their website, outlines a roadmap for collaboration that could be adopted by GRS’s parliamentary committees. Political analysts predict that the real test will be how effectively the USPP can maintain its policy priorities within a larger coalition framework.

As Sabah heads toward the 2026 state election, this development will be a key factor in the electoral calculus for all parties. Whether Kitingan’s gamble pays off will depend on how convincingly he can translate development promises into tangible results, and whether voters see the move as a strategic step forward or a compromise of Sabah’s independence.

In the end, Kitingan’s decision to back GRS marks another chapter in Sabah’s ongoing quest to balance local autonomy with national integration—an issue that remains at the heart of the state’s political narrative.