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Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is a Sabah-based political coalition that emerged during a period of political realignment in Malaysia. Formed in 2020, GRS was created to unify pro-federal and local parties in Sabah, particularly to counter the growing influence of WARISAN. Since then, it has governed Sabah and become a key regional player with national implications.

Fast Facts

• Formed: September 2020
• Type: Political coalition (not a single party)
• Core Ideology: Sabah-centric governance, federal cooperation, conservative nationalism
• Member Parties (as of 2023):
  • Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN)
  • Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)
  • Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP)
  • United Sabah National Organisation (USNO)
  • Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
  • Parti Cinta Sabah
• Current Chief Minister of Sabah: Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (GAGASAN)

Origins: Born from a Power Struggle

• Backdrop: In 2020, WARISAN led by Shafie Apdal controlled the Sabah state government. However, political shifts in Kuala Lumpur (the Sheraton Move) triggered realignments nationwide.
• Snap election (September 2020): Pro-federal parties in Sabah banded together under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah banner to challenge WARISAN in the state election.
• Victory: GRS won a simple majority and formed the new Sabah government, ending WARISAN’s short rule.

GRS was less about ideology and more about strategy: a unified anti-WARISAN front backed by federal allies.

Political Composition and Evolution

• Early structure: Initially, GRS included Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN), and local Sabah parties.
• Tensions with UMNO: Internal rivalry between UMNO and local GRS leaders (especially Hajiji) led to tensions within the coalition.
• GRS as a formal coalition (2022): Registered as an official coalition distinct from PN or BN, signaling its ambition to be a Sabah-first political force.

GRS Today

• Governance: GRS leads the Sabah state government, with Hajiji as Chief Minister.
• Federal alignment: Post-GE15, GRS declared support for Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government, positioning itself as a kingmaker from East Malaysia.
• Focus areas:
  • Implementing state autonomy in line with Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
  • Accelerating rural development and infrastructure.
  • Defending Sabah’s rights over immigration, natural resources, and education.

Sabah Identity, National Impact

• Sabah-first narrative: GRS emphasizes that its loyalty lies with Sabahans, not Peninsular political masters.
• Tensions within coalition politics:
  • Strained ties with UMNO Sabah (especially Bung Moktar Radin).
  • Ongoing realignment of Sabah’s political map, with parties leaving or joining GRS or forming new alliances.
• East Malaysian influence: Alongside GPS in Sarawak, GRS strengthens East Malaysia’s bargaining power in federal politics.

Why GRS Matters

• Decisive role in federal balance: In hung parliaments, Sabah and Sarawak blocs — like GRS — often tip the scale toward forming a federal government.
• New Sabah political landscape: GRS represents the shift from national party dominance (like UMNO) to state-centric coalitions with local legitimacy.
• Autonomy agenda: GRS leaders consistently push for greater fiscal and administrative autonomy, a key point of East Malaysian discontent since 1963.

Parti Warisan Sabah (WARISAN) is a regional political party from Sabah that rose to national attention in a short span of time. Rooted in state rights, multiracial unity, and anti-corruption ideals, Warisan has positioned itself as a symbol of East Malaysian pride while also seeking a bigger role in shaping Malaysia’s political future.

Fast Facts

• Founded: 17 October 2016
• Founder & President: Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal
• Key Achievements: Briefly governed Sabah (2018–2020); first East Malaysian party to be taken seriously as a national player

Origins: A Breakaway from UMNO

• In 2015, Shafie Apdal — then a federal UMNO minister — was removed from the Cabinet.
• The turning point: Shafie resigned from UMNO and launched Warisan in 2016 to offer Sabahans a local alternative to peninsula-led parties.
• Early focus: Restoring state autonomy, fighting corruption, and rebuilding pride in Sabah’s identity under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) framework.

Rise to Power: 2018 State Election

• GE14 (2018): Warisan partnered with Pakatan Harapan at the national level and swept to power in Sabah after defections gave Shafie a state majority.
• The Warisan wave: The party captured the imagination of Sabahans with its strong regional messaging and rejection of race-based politics.
• Shafie as Chief Minister: Led Sabah from 2018–2020; emphasized inclusive development, native rights, and state-federal balance.

Key Leader

Fall and Realignment: 2020–2022

• 2020 Sabah snap election: WARISAN lost control of the state to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), a coalition aligned with Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
• Post-defeat moves: Shafie expanded Warisan’s ambitions beyond Sabah, contesting in Peninsular Malaysia during the 2022 general election.
• GE15 (2022): Warisan underperformed nationally, winning only a few seats, but maintained a presence in the federal Parliament.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is the most influential political party in Sarawak, and a key player in East Malaysia’s political landscape. While less visible at the national level than UMNO or DAP, PBB has long been the anchor of Sarawak’s ruling coalition and a symbol of state pride, autonomy, and stability.

Fast Facts

• Founded: 30 June 1973 (through a merger of Parti Bumiputera and Parti Pesaka)
• Founding Leaders: Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub (Parti Bumiputera), Tun Temenggong Jugah Barieng (Parti Pesaka)
• Core Ideology: Sarawak nationalism, Bumiputera rights, moderate conservatism
• Current Coalition: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)
• Key Achievements: Longest-ruling party in Sarawak; key defender of Sarawak’s rights within the Malaysian federation

Origins: Unity for Sarawak’s Bumiputera

• Why it was formed: To unify Sarawak’s Bumiputera Muslim and Dayak communities under one political platform, particularly as the state navigated its post-Malaysia formation identity.
• Early focus: Autonomy, rural development, and maintaining Sarawak’s special status under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
• Merger: The party was born from the union of Parti Bumiputera (Malay/Melanau majority) and Parti Pesaka(Dayak-oriented), creating a united front for native Sarawakians.

From Local Power to State Dominance

• Rural stronghold: PBB built deep support in Sarawak’s interior and coastal constituencies, thanks to community outreach and development projects.
• Coalition politics: For decades, PBB was a core party within Barisan Nasional (BN) at the federal level, while maintaining near-total control in Sarawak.
• Chief Ministers: Since the 1970s, all Sarawak Chief Ministers (and now Premier) have come from PBB.

Key Leaders Through History

2018 Shift: Leaving Barisan Nasional

• After BN’s fall: Following the 2018 general election, where BN lost federal power, PBB and three other Sarawak parties exited BN.
• Formation of GPS: PBB helped found Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) — a new state-based coalition focused on Sarawak’s interests, free from Peninsular Malaysia’s party dynamics.
• Repositioning: GPS supports federal governments selectively but maintains independence in state affairs.

PBB’s Core Principles and Agenda

• Sarawak First: The party emphasizes autonomy, state rights, and devolution of power from the federal government.
• MA63 advocacy: PBB has been vocal in demanding that Sarawak’s original rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 be honored — including control over immigration, education, and natural resources.
• Development-oriented: Infrastructure, rural connectivity, and digital transformation have become key talking points under current leadership.

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) is Malaysia’s largest and most influential Islamic political party. Founded in the early post-independence era, PAS has evolved from a small ulama-led party into a formidable force with deep grassroots support, especially in the Malay heartland. Its ideology, actions, and political alliances continue to shape Malaysia’s evolving relationship between religion, identity, and governance.

Fast Facts

• Founded: 23 August 1951 (originally as Persatuan Islam Sa-Malaya)
• Origin: Breakaway from UMNO’s religious wing
• Core Ideology: Political Islam, Islamic statehood, Malay-Muslim unity
• Slogan: Membangun Bersama Islam (“Developing with Islam”)
• Key Achievements: Longtime ruler of Kelantan and Terengganu; key player in federal politics post-2018; consistent advocate for Islamic law and governance

Origins: An Islamic Response to Nationalism

• Why PAS was formed: A group of religious scholars (ulama) who were dissatisfied with UMNO’s secular-nationalist orientation formed their own Islamic party, originally within UMNO’s structure.
• Early mission: Promote an Islamic political agenda and represent the interests of devout Muslim Malays.
• First breakaway: In 1951, PAS was officially founded to push for an Islamic state as a counterbalance to UMNO’s secularism and the multiracial Alliance model.

First Electoral Steps and Early Growth

• 1959 general election: PAS won control of Kelantan, marking the beginning of its stronghold in the east coast Malay states.
• Expansion: Built a loyal base among rural Malays through mosques, Islamic schools, and grassroots welfare efforts.
• Ideological consistency: Unlike other major parties, PAS maintained a strong religious identity, even during politically isolated periods.

The Push for an Islamic State

• 1980s–1990s: PAS ramped up calls for hudud laws and a theocratic Islamic state, leading to national debates and tensions with federal authorities.
• Vision Document 1999: Articulated PAS’s goal of establishing a government based on Islamic principles, sparking both support and concern.

Electoral Alliances

• 1999 general election: Joined Barisan Alternatif with DAP and PKR during the Reformasi wave. PAS made electoral gains but the alliance fractured due to ideological clashes.
• Pakatan Rakyat (2008–2015): PAS softened its Islamist image to work with secular parties. It gained non-Muslim support in some areas but faced internal resistance.

Key Leaders Through History

PAS in the 21st Century

• Return to grassroots: Focused heavily on Kelantan and Terengganu, both of which PAS has ruled at various points.
• 2015 split: Internal disputes over cooperating with DAP led to the formation of Amanah, a progressive Islamic splinter party.
• New alliances: PAS aligned with UMNO through Muafakat Nasional (2019), then with Perikatan Nasional (PN) alongside Bersatu, cementing its role in federal power.

2020–Present: Political Power Rises

• 2020–2022: PAS was part of the federal government under the PN-led coalition following the Sheraton Move.
• 2022 general election: PAS emerged as the single party with the most parliamentary seats (43) — a historic feat. PN, led by PAS and Bersatu, became the main opposition bloc.
• Current role: Governs Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah; plays a dominant role in the federal opposition; pushes for stronger Islamic governance at state level.

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) is one of Malaysia’s most prominent multiracial opposition parties — though often perceived as Chinese-majority in support. Known for its firm stance on social justice, good governance, and democratic freedoms, DAP spent decades on the opposition bench before rising to power in 2018. Its evolution reflects Malaysia’s urban, middle-class political awakening.

Fast Facts

• Founded: 11 October 1965
• Origin: Successor to the Malaysian branch of Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP)
• Core Ideology: Social democracy, secularism, multiracialism
• Slogan: Malaysian Malaysia
• Key Achievements: Longtime opposition force; helped end BN’s 61-year rule in 2018; advocate for clean governance, equal rights, and institutional reform

Origins: A Party with Singaporean Roots

• Why it was formed: After Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, the Malaysian branch of Lee Kuan Yew’s People’s Action Party (PAP) rebranded as DAP, under the leadership of Devan Nair and later Dr. Chen Man Hin.
• Founding vision: A “Malaysian Malaysia” — a nation where all citizens are equal regardless of race or religion.
• Early setbacks: DAP was quickly cast by opponents as “anti-Malay” due to its secular and equality-based platform, leading to decades of struggle in the shadow of UMNO-led race-based politics.

Life in the Opposition: 1969–2008

• 1969 general election: DAP made significant gains but was blamed — often unfairly — for racial tensions that led to the May 13 riots.
• Opposition role: For years, DAP became the face of resistance against corruption, authoritarianism, and race-based policies like the NEP.
• Challenges: Despite strong urban Chinese support, DAP remained isolated — frequently labeled as a “Chinese party” and struggling to break into rural or Malay-majority constituencies.

Coalition Building

• 1999 onwards: Began working with other opposition parties like PKR and PAS under the Reformasi banner.
• 2008 political tsunami: DAP scored major wins in urban areas; opposition took control of five states.
• 2013 general election: Won the most seats of any party in Parliament but still could not form government due to Malaysia’s first-past-the-post system.
• 2015–2018: Became a founding member of Pakatan Harapan after breaking with PAS. The new coalition was more cohesive, centrist, and reform-driven.

2018: From Protest to Power

• Historic win: In the 2018 general election, DAP — as part of Pakatan Harapan (PH) — helped bring down Barisan Nasional, ending six decades of uninterrupted rule.
• In government:
  • Held key ministerial portfolios (Finance, Transport, Energy, etc.).
  • Focused on institutional reform, economic restructuring, and transparency.
  • Faced internal and external backlash for perceived compromises on sensitive racial/religious issues.

Key Leaders Through History

Setbacks and Resurgence

• 2020 collapse: The Sheraton Move brought down the PH government, pushing DAP back into opposition.
• 2022 general election: PH returned to power via a Unity Government with former rivals (including UMNO). DAP remains a key component of the current government, though it has had to manage expectations and compromise.

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) is one of the oldest political parties in Malaysia, established even before the country achieved independence. As the main political representative for the Indian community, MIC’s journey has been one of early nationalism, coalition politics, and evolving challenges in a changing Malaysia.

Fast Facts

• Founded: 4 August 1946, Kuala Lumpur
• Founding President: John Thivy
• Core Ideology: Malaysian Indian rights, multiculturalism
• Slogan: Progress, Unity, Excellence
• Key Achievements: Co-founder of the Alliance Party; contributed to Merdeka negotiations and the post-independence nation-building process

Origins: The Early Struggle

• Why MIC was created: Founded in the aftermath of World War II to protect the rights of Indian Malaysians and to engage with broader decolonization efforts.
• Inspiration: Influenced by the Indian independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Early focus: Initially campaigned for full independence for Malaya and sought better treatment and citizenship rights for Indian workers, many of whom worked in plantations.

Alliance and the Road to Independence

• Joining forces: Recognizing the need for multiracial unity, MIC joined UMNO and MCA in forming the Alliance Party in the 1950s.
• Role in Merdeka: MIC contributed to the tripartite negotiations that led to the declaration of independence in 1957.
• Community focus: Shifted emphasis towards social and economic advancement for the Indian community — especially in education, employment, and housing.

Nation-Building Years: 1957–1980s

• Post-independence work:
  • Advocated for Tamil schools and scholarships for Indian students.
  • Pushed for Indian representation in government, civil service, and private sector opportunities.
• Political standing: As the smallest of the three Alliance parties, MIC had limited electoral weight but significant symbolic importance for multiracial governance.

Key Leaders Through History

Challenges in the Modern Era

• Urbanization and voter shift: As Malaysian society became more urbanized and educated, many Indians shifted support towards opposition parties like DAP and PKR.
• Post-2008 decline: The 2008 general election marked a turning point, with MIC losing significant support and struggling to maintain electoral relevance.
• Representation crisis: Many Indian Malaysians felt that MIC was unable to adequately address systemic issues such as poverty, education inequality, and discrimination.

MIC Today

• Current position: A junior partner within the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, now part of Malaysia’s Unity Government.
• Focus areas:
  • Revitalizing Indian educational institutions and Tamil schools.
  • Addressing socio-economic inequality among the Indian community.
  • Modernizing the party’s approach to attract younger Indian Malaysians.