SABAH Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has welcomed the formalisation of cooperation between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) ahead of the state election, calling it a demonstration of political maturity and responsibility toward Sabah’s future.
Bung said Sabah BN fully supports the alliance and stands ready to work with PH to secure a stronger mandate in the upcoming polls.
“We acknowledge that today’s political reality demands maturity and sincerity in building stability. For the future of the state, we choose to work together not just to win the election, but to build a better and well-managed Sabah,” Bung said in a statement in Kota Kinabalu on Friday.
He added that Sabah BN would engage in detailed negotiations with PH on seat distribution and would consult on approaches with other “like-minded parties.”
However, he did not specify which other parties might be considered part of this extended cooperation.
Bung also pledged to mobilise BN Sabah’s entire machinery with “100% focus, 100% discipline, and 100% sincerity” to face the election as a united front.
Notably absent from Bung’s statement, however, was any reference to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Bung made no mention on mending ties with GRS, its former ally before their political fallout in January 2023.
The split, which followed Bung’s failed attempt to topple Hajiji’s government, remains one of the most significant unresolved rifts in Sabah politics.
Bung’s silence on GRS leaves open questions on whether BN and GRS might still negotiate, clash, or attempt to avoid multi-cornered fights that could benefit their mutual opponents.
While Bung has declared BN Sabah’s full commitment to the PH-BN pact, the broader political equation in Sabah remains unsettled. - May 9, 2025
