KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional will not contest solo in the coming state election and is ready to work with other parties if the seat arrangements are acceptable, says state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
“Umno and Barisan Nasional will not likely go solo, but we will ensure that Umno is always on a good platform and that our machinery is prepared to face the election in every way.
“We want to ensure that Barisan remains the dominant party,” he said.
The state Umno had identified seats it would contest in and would discuss with other parties keen on forging a political pact, he told reporters after attending a Ramadan event here.
He declined to name parties that Sabah Umno was in discussion with, except to say that it was on the right track to face the election.
To a question, he said Sabah Barisan was looking at retaining 40% of the incumbents but no final decision had been made.
“We have held a meeting on the seat distribution, but discussions on it have yet to be finalised by the national Barisan council.”
He said the party presidents of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) together with the Umno and other component party presidents were still in talks.
Asked about Sabah Umno’s autonomy in determining the seats to be contested, Bung Moktar said that discussions between party presidents need to be done first before the decision is submitted to Sabah Barisan.
“We have autonomy, but the reality is that the party president will discuss first and then propose a decision to the state Barisan.
“The state Umno will consider the proposal and we will agree to it if the chance of victory is in Barisan’s favour. If not, we will provide a counter proposal,” he added.
