GE15: Bung Moktar hopes for mutual gains in BN-GRS cooperation

SANDAKAN: It is hoped that cooperation between Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the 15th General Election (GE15) will be beneficial to both sides, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (pic).

The Sabah Barisan chairman said talks on cooperation between Barisan and GRS were going well and expected to be settled before GE15.

The Deputy Chief Minister said Sabah Barisan had identified its potential candidates for GE15 and would finalise its list for the central Barisan after negotiations with GRS were completed.

"Grassroots support for Barisan in Sabah is very convincing. Sabah Barisan is making the necessary preparations to retain the seats won previously and contribute as many seats as possible to help Barisan capture Putrajaya,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the launching of the Blue Wave gathering and Barisan Zone 5 election machinery by federal Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who is an Umno supreme council member.

Reezal Merican told reporters that Barisan Zone 5, which involves the Kinabatangan, Libaran, Beluran, Sandakan and Batu Sapi parliamentary constituencies, could be a “lifeline” for the coalition in GE15.

He said despite facing difficulties in GE14, the Barisan machinery in the zone managed to defend three of the five parliamentary seats contested.

On Barisan’s cooperation with GRS in Sabah, he said GRS had expressed its desire to work with Barisan in GE15.

"In reality, who is our (Barisan’s) main enemy? Our main enemy is possibly (Parti) Warisan. In this matter, we at the central leadership level has placed our trust on Datuk Seri Bung and Datuk Yakub Khan (Sabah Barisan deputy chairman),” he said.

GRS - which comprises Sabah Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) - runs the state together with Barisan. - Bernama