Seven Sabah seats not resolved yet

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno and its partners in the main opposition alliance are still haggling over seven seats despite being days away from the Sept 12 nomination day for the state election.

Intensive discussions were being held to find a consensus with local-based parties Parti Bersatu Sabah and Sabah STAR over the seven seats of Kemabong, Kuamut, Paginatan, Tg Aru and Kuala Penyu, as well as the newly carved seats of Bengkoka and Telupid, said sources.

These mainly involve a mix of non-Muslim bumiputra (ethnic Kadazandusun, Rungus and Murut) seats which Umno is also seeking as it previously held some of the seats or had strong grassroots support there.The talks for the the seat-sharing arrangement are between the main opposition alliance comprising Barisan Nasional (Sabah Umno, Sabah MCA and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah), Perikatan Nasional (Sabah Bersatu, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party and Sabah PAS) and PBS.

So far, according to sources, Sabah Umno led by Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Sabah Bersatu headed by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor have already settled their seat-sharing for the Muslim bumiputra seats with Umno taking 30 and Bersatu 19 (or 20 if it gets the new seat of Bandau).

Umno’s 30 seats include some of the seven seats in dispute.

According to Sabah STAR president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, the Perikatan allies were looking at a total 46 seats but declined to give specifics.

“Almost done,” he said briefly when asked whether the seat negotiations were finalised following another round of meetings late Sunday.

PBS, whose negotiations is led by its deputy president Datuk Radin Malleh, has kept mum over the seat negotiations but the party is eyeing 30 seats.

It is understood that if neither party gives way, they might agree to a “free-for-all” in those seats where they are unable to reach a compromise.

Sources said Bung Moktar would contest the new Lamag state seat, Hajiji would be defending Sulaman and his Sabah Bersatu deputy Datuk Masidi Manjun would stay in his Karanan seat.

There is still no indication from former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman whether he wants to defend his Sungai Sibuga state seat, or move to the newly-created Sungai Manila constituency.

Both Sungai Sibuga and Sungai Manila in the Libaran parliamentary constituency are among the confirmed seats to be contested by Umno.

Sources also confirmed that Sabah Umno would field a candidate in the Bongawan state seat, which is likely to see Musa’s younger brother and Parti Cinta Sabah president Datuk Seri Anifah Aman staking a claim there.

Dr Jeffrey is expected to defend the Tambunan seat he won from his brother Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan in the 2018 election.

Other opposition parties not aligned to Perikatan are Anifah’s PCS and Liberal Democratic Party spearheaded by former chief minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat.

The two parties will be contesting 40 seats respectively and do not want to be aligned with the main opposition alliance.

Several smaller parties are also expected to enter the fray.