KOTA KINABALU – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) are set to formalise their electoral pact for the coming general election (GE15), with the two coalitions slated to announce their candidates by tomorrow afternoon.
This was confirmed today after both coalitions sent separate invitations for the press to attend an announcement on the matter at the same venue tomorrow.
The invitations indicated that the announcement will be made at a five-star resort here from 2pm onwards tomorrow.
Both Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor of Bersatu, and Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin are scheduled to give speeches at the event, according to one of the invitations.
The impending announcement would also mark an end to the tussle for seats between GRS and BN, who have both been holding negotiations on a seat-sharing formula since the dissolution of Parliament last month.
GRS consists of Bersatu, Sabah Progressive Party, Sabah Star, Parti Bersatu Sabah, and Usno, while BN comprises Umno, MCA, MIC, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.
It was previously reported that GRS is tipped to contest in 13 seats in Sabah while BN will run in 12 seats for GE15.
Both Hajiji and Bung have also previously hinted that GRS and BN would form an electoral pact for the polls.
The Vibes had previously reported that the two coalitions have been locking horns over seat allocations for PBS-held Kota Marudu, apart from Sipitang and Beluran, which are both held by Bersatu.
“Kudat (now Bersatu) will be returned to BN, as well as Tuaran, Beaufort, and Libaran,” the source said at the time.
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, Datuk Seri Azizah Mohd Dun, Yamani Hafez Musa, Datuk Jonathan Yasin, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, and Datuk Zakaria Mohd 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 Sabah Star will run in 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.
Furthermore, PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili is also expected to move from his incumbent seat in Kota Marudu to Tuaran.
Kota Marudu is seen as a hot seat after a Bersatu leader decided to abandon the party in an effort to contest the rural seat under the Social Democratic Harmony Party’s banner. – The Vibes, November 1, 2022
