KOTA KINABALU, July 21 -- Despite calls for the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to contest on its own, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that the coalition with remain in a formal pact with its national coalition partners Pakatan Harapan (PH) going into the election, with a broader strategy in mind.

The Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president said that political stability - not just electoral victory - is the priority for the state, but also stressed that GRS would be contesting most of the 73 state constituency seats.

"We will continue our cooperation in the current government - both the state government, GRS, and Pakatan Harapan," he said when speaking to reporters here.

"We also want to listen to local aspirations. So...