Preparing early: Bung Moktar (centre) handing over a letter for the appointment of coordinators to Sabah MCA Chairman Datuk Teah Heok Kuin after the state Barisan meeting.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional is drafting a new election manifesto for the coming 17th state election which is due before September 2025.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the manifesto will be tailored towards winning back the people’s support for the state election, which is speculated to be called earlier.
He said Sabah Barisan secretary Datuk Jafry Arifin will head a committee to discuss and draft a practical and realistic manifesto that could be implemented for the people of Sabah.
“Our focus is on improving the state in terms of basic infrastructure development that requires immediate attention. We also want to focus on improving the state’s economy to overcome unemployment and poverty,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Bung Moktar added that the main thrust of the manifesto would also be towards wooing young voters. He chaired the Sabah Barisan meeting attended by component parties, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), MCA and MIC at the Sabah Umno headquarters here on Saturday.
Others at the meeting were Jafry, Sabah Barisan deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan and treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak and leaders from PBRS, MCA and MIC.
“We are not going to promise the moon and the stars.
“Our manifesto will be realistic and practical goals that can be delivered, unlike the grand promises made by other parties,” he said, adding that such “grand” promises till today have yet to be delivered.
Bung Moktar said the manifesto needs to be prepared early to face any possibility that the state elections will be held soon as historically, elections in the state were called earlier than scheduled.
He also handed over appointment letters to 25 Barisan coordinating chairmen in each parliamentary constituency in the state.
He said the coordinators in each area should discuss strategies with their coalition members and also organise the election machinery in preparation for the state election where there are 73 seats to be contested.
