DATUK Seri Bung Moktar Radin is optimistic the Barisan Nasional (BN) will make the right decision on a potential electoral alliance with other parties in the upcoming Sabah election.
He also made it clear they would not work with their previous electoral partner who had 'cheated' them in the last Sabah election.
In a statement, the Sabah BN chairman conceded that the decision of whether BN will contest the polls independently or in coalition with other parties in the 17th Sabah election will rest with the central leadership of the alliance.
However, he stressed that such a decision must be aligned with Sabah BN’s proposal to the party's central leadership, which was made through a consensus with other Sabah BN component parties.
These component parties in Sabah BN include the state MCA, MIC, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.
"At this point, Sabah BN has not finalised any decisions regarding electoral cooperation with other parties. However, preliminary discussions have taken place with others and will be concluded at the appropriate time," he said.
Bung, who serves as the Sabah Umno chief, said this in response to statements by the central BN deputy chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan that electoral cooperation with other parties in the Sabah elections will be determined by central BN leaders.
There were news reports earlier that Sabah Umno plans to work with the Sabah opposition party, Warisan in the state election which is scheduled in 2025.
The leaders for both Sabah Umno and Warisan have admitted they are exploring the idea, and that preliminary talks have been held between the two political parties.
However, both sides have maintained they have not decided on a tie-up.
Contrary to Mohamad’s assertion, deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on a visit to Kota Kinabalu last January said that political cooperation with other parties would only be decided when the Sabah Legislative Assembly is dissolved.
However, he also said, "There is nothing wrong with preparing (for the election) from now."
"So, I hope nobody will come out with their analysis and speculation that a political crisis is happening in Sabah,” said Ahmad Zahid, referring to a possible tie-up between Warisan and Sabah Umno," he said.
Bung also supported the party president's words, stating that it was too early to decide on a political partnership, stating that it would only be known after the Sabah Government decided to dissolve the Legislative Assembly to make way for the Sabah election.
He also reiterated that Sabah BN and the state Umno will exercise caution when selecting a possible electoral partner, and it will only decide on a partner that genuinely upholds its commitments.
The Lamag assemblyman also rejected the possibility of working with previous partners, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, citing the alliance had deceived Sabah Umno and Sabah Barisan Nasional from the start.
Bung said they had been lied to on seat distribution and candidates in the Sabah election in 2020 and thereafter, the formation of the Sabah Cabinet after winning the election.
“From the beginning, Umno/BN Sabah has been deceived. We decided to field candidates in areas agreed upon for BN candidates, but they put up independent candidates to challenge BN candidates.
“Moreover, they campaigned and offered incentives to voters just to ensure BN candidates lost, so parties like this are not welcome in the BN Sabah camp. We had already agreed on seat distribution, but they fielded independent candidates to challenge us during the Sabah election in 2020,” he said.
Sabah Umno is in the midst of a state-wide political tour and has begun preparations for the state election, which is scheduled in 2025. – The Vibes, March 27, 2024
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