KOTA KINABALU, April 23 -- A senior Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leader has downplayed the exit of Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia's party from the ruling coalition, saying the state government's priority remains on governance, not politics.

The response comes after Pandikar announced that his United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) was leaving GRS, citing differences in direction and policy alignment following the recent state election.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who is also the GRS secretary-general, said the coalition is moving ahead regardless of Usno's decision.

"GRS's focus is managing the government which is just six months old to ensure better and more effective delivery of government services," said Mas...