KOTA KINABALU – Barisan Nasional and Umno will remain friendly with its unity government partners in Sabah until the state’s next election, said the coalition’s chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The deputy prime minister, who is on a visit to Sabah, said several steps are being taken now to ensure the Sabah government will remain in power until the next polls, which is due by September 2025.
“We are in a calm phase…we intend to create a calm situation between all (state government) parties in Sabah.
“For Umno, I have personally told my friends from the party and Sabah Barisan Nasional not to do something that could offend or hurt the feelings of any (unity government) parties.
“There are several solutions being done now, and we are looking at good measures so the state government can remain in power until the next state election,” he told reporters after launching a breaking-of-fast event held in Kg Benoni in Papar today.
Zahid’s remarks came after Umno extended an olive branch to the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, following a botched coup attempt last January 6.
“We are determined on this (move to maintain the status quo) and the agreement (with GRS) must be kept.
“But at the same time, we hope that any posts – whether in the government-linked firms, or in the state government, or in the grassroots leadership – must be maintained as promised.”
On another note, Zahid has expressed hope that state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his newly appointed deputy Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan combination could bring about progress and create a stable political situation in the state. – The Vibes, April 8, 2023
