Sabah Umno: Money politics caused loss

SANDAKAN: Sabah Umno blamed money politics for the huge loss of votes in the Muslim bumiputra areas for Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate Datuk Linda Tsen in the Sandakan by-election.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (pic) claimed that money was used to entice voters.

“Some voters are telling me there was money used. We are checking on the allegations,” he said, adding that they were able to mobilise 3,500 of the 7,900 Umno voters to cast their vote.

However, he said that due to lack of funds, they were not able to bring back the outstation voters.

Bung Moktar said the defeat of PBS did not directly affect Umno as they were just helping.

“We will continue to work towards strengthening the party and see how best they would work as a partnership,” he said.

He added that after the 14th General Election, the Sandakan by-election was a testing ground for them to work out a formula towards creating a Sabah-based opposition coalition.

“We will hold more discussions and come out with a strategy to take on Warisan (Parti Warisan Sabah) and their Pakatan Harapan partners. This is just a stepping stone,” said the Kinabatangan MP.