KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional is open to working with Parti Warisan and Parti KDM for the upcoming state election which could be called earlier than its scheduled 2025 date.
Its chief, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said while this was a possibility, it was however still too early for the coalition to firm up any commitment.
“Let’s wait until the date for the 17th Sabah election is set,” said the Sabah Umno chief who is also Lamag assemblyman.
The possibility of Sabah Barisan – of which Umno is a component party, working with Warisan and KDM is in contrast to the scenario during the last state polls in 2020.
At that time, the two parties were contesting against each other.
Back then, Barisan had worked with Perikatan Nasional under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah umbrella, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor while Warisan had tied up with Pakatan Harapan.
The Barisan-GRS collaboration had managed to topple the then incumbent government led by Warisan.
But in January this year, Bung Moktar announced that Sabah Barisan pulled out from the GRS-Barisan state government, claiming the former had reneged on its pledges to his party.
KDM, led by Datuk Peter Anthony is a breakaway of Warisan after the state polls.
Bung Moktar reiterated Barisan and Umno’s stand that it would only partner up with parties that respect the agreement set earlier to protect the rights of Sabahans.
He explained their previous experience working with other parties had taught Sabah Umno to be more mature in politics, especially when considering potential partners.
“We will also look at friends who, as political partners, are loyal and honest to fight for the people of the state.
“We do not want any internal crisis that can undermine efforts to develop Sabah,” he said.
Another factor to be considered when choosing a partner for the polls was that whoever they accepted as partners should ultimately ensure victory for Sabah Barisan candidates in the next state polls, he added.
Hajiji who had not discounted the possibility of an early Sabah state election, urged members of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah of which he is the president, to be prepared for the polls.
To this, Bung Moktar said Barisan was ready for an early state election. “The Barisan machinery is ready. Not only that, we have formed our polling district centres and they are constantly being updated including on identifying members and voters.”
