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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional and Umno will not wait for a green light from any external parties to declare their position or chart their political course, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (pic).
The state Barisan and Umno chief said the coalition will contest the upcoming 17th state election on its own strengths.
While Sabah Barisan does not reject political cooperation, he said, it will not be part of an alliance just to "make up the numbers" or legitimise a fragile grip on power.
ALSO READ: GRS grassroots want straight fight with Barisan in Sabah polls, claims Armizan
Ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali had recently called for straight fights in the upcoming state polls.
In a statement on Sunday (June 15), Bung Moktar also said friendships and partnerships should be built on sincerity, going beyond agreements on paper and extending to policy implementation, respect for allies, and upholding the integrity of the political system.
“Political cooperation without honesty is like building a house on mud … it may stand for a while, but will surely collapse when tested.
“Sabah Barisan will no longer build on mud. We have learned our lesson. The people have also seen how insincere alliances result in weak, inconsistent and untrustworthy governments,” he said.
Bung Moktar added that Barisan welcomes any democratic contest, for as long as it is grounded in genuine competition, not “borrowed support or shortcut formulas".
Directing his message squarely at GRS, he stated: “If it is sincere about a democratic contest, Barisan is ready to face it in the elections.”
He stressed that clashes should not be feared in a democracy, but embraced as the best platform to test who truly commands public trust.
“To the people of Sabah, especially the younger generation and the politically aware middle class, this is the time to reassess the political landscape and the choices before you.
“Sabah Barisan does not come with mere slogans, but with a proven track record.
"We have led this state towards development. We have been tested. And now, we return with a firm resolve to improve, not simply to repeat.
“In political science, legitimacy does not come from seat numbers alone, but from the people’s trust in the sincerity of your struggle,” he added.
ALSO READ: Sabah parties gear up for polls
Armizan had earlier said GRS grassroots members favour a direct contest against Barisan in the coming election, believing it would give voters a clearer choice and remove claims that a party won only because of another’s support.
While supporting Bung Moktar’s call for the coalitions to go their separate ways, Armizan clarified that it was his personal opinion, not GRS’ official position.
He also reiterated that GRS remains open to continued cooperation with Sabah Pakatan Harapan, aligning with the stand of Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Armizan stressed that any electoral arrangement must also consider the interests of the current state government, not just the federal coalition.
