KOTA KINABALU: Umno wants to mend bridges with former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman following the failed attempt to topple the Warisan Plus-led Sabah government last month, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said Umno merely had political differences with Musa and the party was now working to mend ties with him.
“The bridge between us and him will not only be established, but it will also be strengthened, ” he said after the launch of Barisan Nasional’s machinery at Sutera Harbour yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid believed that Barisan Nasional leaders would understand the situation, adding that there were so many potential candidates for limited seats to be contested.
He also said Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is leading the Barisan election machinery, assured him that seat allocations involving the state Opposition were nearly completed.
He said Bung Moktar would announce the seat allocations later.
Earlier in his speech, Ahmad Zahid said he did not discount the possibility of multi-cornered fights in several constituencies, adding that there was a “third force” interested to join in the fray.
“If there is a third force wanting to make this state election merrier, we will leave them to the voters.
“We don’t want a third force and we don’t want the present government as well because we know Sabahans miss Barisan, ” he added.
He is believed to be referring to Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who left Umno in 2018 following GE14.
PCS aims to contest more than 40 of the 73-seat state assembly.
Meanwhile, when asked by reporters whether Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has been accepted by Sabah Umno, Ahmad Zahid merely replied: “That will be decided later.”
Salleh was seen in a blue shirt with the Barisan logo during the event.
He lost his Kota Belud parliamentary seat in GE14 and has been without a party since December 2018.
It is learnt that Salleh has been carrying out ground work in the Usukan constituency, which is also his family stronghold.
On Barisan’s choice as chief minister, Ahmad Zahid said the candidate would be decided by the winning Barisan assemblymen to choose their leader.
“Never before in the history of Umno or Barisan, the power of autonomy was given. This is our commitment, ” he said.
He said Sabah Barisan would also be given the autonomy to choose its candidates for the state election.
The 16th Sabah state polls will be held on Sept 26.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
