KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) respects the decision of Sabah Umno to nominate Sabah Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman the state’s Bersatu head Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor for the chief minister position.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he respects the decision on the basis of the spirit of autonomy of Sabah Umno that has been agreed upon.
He said he was informed by Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin that the decision was reached to ensure that the interests of the people of Sabah.
“I was informed by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin that, after negotiations among the winning GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) assemblymen in the state election, they finally agreed to nominate Hajiji Noor,” he said in a statement today.
He expressed hope that the new state government can immediately focus on various agendas to safeguard the interests of Sabahans as promised by GRS.
Previously, Zahid insisted that the post of Sabah chief minister should come from Umno as the party secured the largest number of state seats in the GRS alliance.
GRS is a coalition of PN, BN and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
PN includes Bersatu, Sabah Star and Sabah Progressive Party.
In the state election last Saturday, Umno/BN won 14 seats, Bersatu (11), Sabah Star (six) and PBS (seven). – Bernama, September 28, 2020