Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will hold a Supreme Council meeting on June 18, 2026, to decide on the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation's (Upko) application to join as a component party [1, 2].
Upko formally submitted its application on May 29, 2026, through its president Datuk Ewon Benedick to GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor [1, 2]. GRS secretary general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has been engaging with Upko leaders and preparing a paper for the upcoming meeting. He said, "The GRS meeting is scheduled to take place on June 18 and an official decision is expected to be made then" [1, 2].
A key condition for Upko's admission is its commitment to GRS' four core principles: Sabah First, Sabah Forward, Sabah Prosper, and Sabah United [1, 2].
GRS currently consists of five component parties: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, and Parti Cinta Sabah [1, 2]. The addition of Upko would expand the coalition's political base ahead of future state and national contests.
The decision by the GRS Supreme Council on June 18 will finalize whether Upko joins the alliance.
