{
  "id": 12831194,
  "title": "GRS' 15-seat target opens door for talks, says Mustapha",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/grs-15-seat-target-opens-door-for-talks-says-mustapha",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T09:03:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1550599/grs-15-seat-target-opens-door-talks-says-mustapha"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KOTA KINABALU: GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) has set its sights on contesting more than 15 parliamentary seats in the state, opening up a path for talks, according to Sabah Pakatan Harapan chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. With 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah, Mustapha noted that there are 10 seats left up for negotiation. The paramount concern is maintaining the government's ongoing development initiatives, which holds the utmost importance. Mustapha expressed appreciation for the PH's collaboration with GRS, indicating that the matter could be addressed further. As part of the unity government at the federal level, GRS is represented by six MPs, while PH has three. On Tuesday, GRS secretary-general Datuk Armizan Ali suggested that simulations of the previous year's state election results pointed towards GRS securing at least 15 seats. Mustapha believed that the GRS leadership and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor remained open to discussions, in the best interest of the people of Sabah. They acknowledged that they had not fixed a particular number, but were willing to discuss and evaluate the individual strengths of each party in those areas.",
  "summary": "KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) target of contesting more than 15 parliamentary seats in the state could serve as a basis for negotiations, said Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}