KOTA KINABALU – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest 13 and 12 federal seats respectively in an apparent seat-sharing formula between the two political groupings in the 15th general election (GE15).
According to sources close to the matter, the two coalitions are still finalising the terms on at least three more seats.
“They are Kota Marudu (now held by PBS), Sipitang (Bersatu) and Beluran (Bersatu),” he said.
“Kudat (now Bersatu) will be returned to BN, as well as Tuaran, Beaufort, and Libaran,” said the source who obtained first-hand information from the GRS leadership.
GRS comprises Bersatu, Sabah Star, PBS, SAPP and Usno, while BN’s components are Umno, PBRS, MIC and MCA.
Yesterday, Sabah BN chairman-cum-state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has confirmed an electoral cooperation with GRS led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Sabah Bersatu chairman and GRS chairman.
Another source told The Vibes that Bersatu initially wanted six seats which the party has held since the last general election in 2018.
The seats are Kudat, Beaufort, Sipitang, Ranau, Beluran and Libaran. The incumbents there are Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Azizah Mohd Dun, Yamani Hafez Musa, Jonathan Yasin, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Datuk Zakaria Edris respectively.
“But Kudat, Sipitang and Beluran are now deadlocked in the talks between GRS and BN.
“We still have to wait until the party’s top leaders have finalised them,” the source said.
It is reliably learnt that Bersatu will contest in Ranau, Tuaran, Papar, Semporna and Sipitang, while components Sabah Star will run for Keningau, Penampang, Lahad Datu and Kota Kinabalu, and PBS will likely contest in Kota Marudu.
It could not be ascertained whether Usno will be contesting at this point in time.
The Vibes was made to understand the GRS council will have another round of meetings soon to decide on the seat distribution and the applications by other Sabah-based parties to join the coalition.
The parties are KDM Malaysia led by Datuk Peter Anthony, Liberal Democratic Party led by Datuk Chin Su Phin, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah led Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah, Parti Cinta Sabah led by Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, and Parti Anak Negeri led by Datuk Henrynus Amin.
The source noted that Hajiji as the GRS chairman wants more local parties in the fold and to possibly offer them seats to contest in the general election.
BN has set its eyes on its traditional constituencies, namely Putatan, Sepanggar and Kota Belud.
The coalition’s lead party Umno also plans to contest in Beaufort, Kinabatangan, Kalabakan, Libaran, Beluran, Lahad Datu, and also Tenom and Pensiangan in the interior.
At the same time, MCA has set its eyes on Sandakan, while MIC has never been fielded in any general election in Sabah before.
PBRS will likely retain Pensiangan, while PBS will contest Kota Marudu and Batu Sapi. – The Vibes, October 12, 2022
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