KOTA BELUD: Sabah Umno is preparing for a state election that can be called at any time and is open to working with anyone who follows the unity government’s Madani concept, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president said he had met with Sabah Umno leaders to discuss preparations for the state polls ahead of the September 2025 dissolution date.
“I am here not because of any political crisis. I am here for this meeting and event,” he told reporters after joining the Kadamaian Christmas and New Year 2024 celebrations here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said Sabah is likely to hold the state election earlier and as such, it is not wrong for it to prepare early.
Asked who Sabah Umno would be working with, he said it is open to working with any party “big or small” that follows the Madani concept.
However, he said the decision on any partnership would only be made after the state assembly is dissolved.
On differing views on Sabah Umno and Parti Warisan working together, Ahmad Zahid said Umno is ready to work with any party as long as there is no agenda to differentiate between local and national-level parties, adding that any partnership must benefit the nation and Sabah.
He said relations between Umno and Pakatan Harapan at the federal level were “intact and working well”.
Asked if Sabah Umno could decide on a partnership on its own, he pointed out that the Umno constitution provided autonomy to Sabah Umno to make its own decisions, including selecting candidates.
“But decisions have to be relayed to the party leadership,” he added.
He commended Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin for strengthening the party, adding that he was confident that Umno would become a major force again in Sabah with the cooperation of its leaders, including state party deputy chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
In recent weeks, talk has been rife that Sabah Umno led by Bung Moktar and Warisan led by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal were warming up to jointly taking on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in the next state election.
However, certain quarters in Sabah Umno, including Abdul Rahman, are said to be keen on working with GRS, triggering friction over the issue.
On Jan 5 last year, Bung Moktar withdrew Sabah Umno’s support to GRS, but Hajiji survived the coup attempt when Sabah Pakatan Harapan and renegade Umno assemblymen backed him.
Earlier at the event, Ahmad Zahid approved the construction of 40 units of housing for the hardcore poor in Kadamaian as requested by its assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick, who is also the Cooperatives and Entrepreneur Development Minister.
The DPM said RM224mil had already been allocated for rural roads, which would be a game changer for the folk in Kadamaian, a subdistrict of Kota Belud.
Ahmad Zahid said it was important for leaders in the country not to make the people pay the price of political instability, adding that differences in politics should result in doing good for the people.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was working hard to ensure the stability and prosperity of the country.
“How great it will be if the political situation in the country is always peaceful,” he said, urging politicians to stick with agreements and pledges made and not victimise the people.
