UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reminded political parties not to be arrogant, warning that no single party today is capable of forming the government on its own.
His remarks come amid mounting backlash from several Sabah political leaders following his May 12 criticism of the Sabah for Sabahans slogan.
Zahid said current political realities highlight the necessity of coalition governments—a trend clearly demonstrated in the 15th General Election (GE15) in November 2022.
He noted that no party managed to secure a clear majority in that election.
“Even though Umno is the largest party in the country, we did not win many seats at that time. Yet, even with a small number of seats, we contributed to the formation of the current government,” he told reporters in Sepanggar.
Zahid warned that Sabah could face the same political reality after its upcoming state election, stressing that it is wiser for parties to work together rather than assume they can govern alone.
“I see the same trend possibly happening in Sabah. No party should feel too big or too dominant to the point of thinking it doesn’t need to work with others,” he added.
Zahid also expressed agreement with Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin’s view, reiterating that Malaysia was founded on federal unity—not rigid regionalism—and that states must work together to achieve progress.
On May 12, Zahid described the Sabah for Sabahans slogan as inconsistent with the aspirations of the Unity Government, which prioritises inclusivity and close cooperation between state and federal governments.
His remarks triggered sharp responses from several Sabah political figures, including Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan.
Jeffrey defended the slogan, stating that it represents Sabah’s rightful place in the Malaysian federation and is not divisive.
He stressed that Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963 as an equal partner and should be recognised as such.
Meanwhile, Zahid clarified that discussions on a possible BN-PH Plus Plus alliance remain ongoing and have yet to be finalised.
He further stressed that Umno and BN have not shut the door on collaboration, in the interest of ensuring effective governance in Sabah.
“We have never shut the door, and of course, our friends in other parties have not shut theirs either. We are open to forming any partnership to face PRN17,” he said.
Recently, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor declared that the coalition was prepared to contest the state election alone, following the official announcement on May 9, that PH and BN would form an alliance to contest in Sabah.
However, after meeting with PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Tawau on Sunday, May 11, Hajiji indicated that GRS remained open to working with BN-PH—provided GRS would be the dominant force in any future alliance.
Hajiji had previously expressed interest in a PH-GRS cooperation while seeking to sideline Sabah BN, whose leader - Bung Moktar - he had a fall out with in 2023. – May 17, 2025
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