AN announcement by Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin declaring his party’s intention to work with Sabah Pakatan Harapan in the state election has sparked confusion and mixed reactions.
Speaking at his Hari Raya open house, the Kinabatangan MP said Sabah Umno had decided — internally — to work with PH, following a recent party retreat in Penang.
“Today I would like to inform that Umno Sabah held a retreat recently, and we have decided to work together with PH. As for other parties, we are not closing the door.
"Any party that we see has the desire, commitment, and loyalty — we will consider working together,” he told reporters.
However, most of the media quickly reported the remark as confirmation that a coalition deal had been struck, implying Sabah BN and PH had already reached a consensus — a narrative that sparked backlash and prompted swift responses from PH component parties.
Sabah PKR information chief Razeef Rakimin welcomed the idea of cooperation but warned that unresolved tensions between BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) must first be addressed.
“In our view, BN needs to mend its relationship with GRS because we do not want the friction between these two sides to cause PH to be caught in the middle and ultimately complicate our campaign machinery during the election,” he said.
Razeef stressed that any cooperation must reflect the unity of the federal government and be formed “without any conflict with other parties in the Unity Government.”
He also said BN could play a constructive role — if it aligned with the broader goals of Sabah’s development.
Sabah Umno’s decision to withdraw support for GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in early 2023 triggered a prolonged political standoff between the once-allied blocs.
Sabah PH has aligned with GRS to maintain control of the state government, and has generally avoided engaging with the question of cooperation with BN ahead of the next election.
Sabah DAP chairman Phoong Jin Zhe meanwhile provided a more blunt response, pushing back against the idea that any formal pact was underway.
“We acknowledge Bung’s remarks. But so far, DAP Sabah has not entered official talks with any party regarding PRN17.”
“Informal meetings between politicians happen all the time — that’s not unusual,” he added.
Phoong said DAP remained open to dialogue — but only based on shared policies that benefit Sabahans, not mere political survival.
“Cooperation must be based on a shared agenda that uplifts Sabah. We are prepared to discuss such policies before committing to any form of alliance,” he said.
He added that discussions must reflect the values of the Madani government at the federal level, but stressed the priority must be stability and good governance in Sabah.
“Political stability after PRN17 is crucial to attract investment and sustain development,” he said, noting that PH Sabah’s formal position will be discussed in an upcoming leadership meeting.
During his open house, Bung clarified that no formal talks had yet been held with Sabah PH.
He said the announcement was meant to give clarity to party members ahead of the state election campaign season.
“Our grassroots need to know. They cannot wait too long. The longer I hold, the more likely we will be split,” he said.
On potential collaboration with GRS or Warisan, Bung remained non-committal: “There are many parties now… let’s wait.” - April 15, 2025
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