Tok Mat: Barisan will not take part in Sandakan by-election

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has announced that Barisan Nasional will not take part in the May 11 Sandakan by-election.

"We have discussed it and we have decided not to field any candidate in the by-election.

"We might give support to parties, depending on what happens on nomination day," he told reporters after chairing the Barisan supreme council meeting here at Putra World Trade Centre Monday (April 22).

Earlier, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) confirmed it will contest in the Sandakan parliamentary by-election.

PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili reportedly said that his party decided to do so based on feedback from, and the demands of the “grassroots in Sandakan”.

The Sandakan by-election was called after the sudden death of Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Stephen Wong on March 28.

At least three independents have also indicated their interest in contesting the polls.

It was reported that Sandakan has 39,777 registered voters comprising 49% Chinese, 44% Muslim bumiputra and 6% non-Muslim bumiputra voters.

Umno had earlier announced that it would not field any candidate in the by-election on May 11.

Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the party would not do so because it had never contested the seat before and it was represented by a Sabah Barisan Nasional component party.

“We have decided that the party will not contest the seat,”