SHAH ALAM: Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for the Chief Minister’s post in the next Sabah state polls will be from the state, says party deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
“What matters to us is that the people want something better, and we are ready to take over for the people’s benefit.
We are not going to tell you who our next candidate for Chief Minister of Sabah will be when Perikatan wins the coming state election. However, our candidate will definitely be Sabahan," said Hamzah.
The Opposition Leader then apologised to the people of Sabah for Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's actions after the last state election.
Hamzah offered the apology at a press conference after officiating the annual general assemblies of the Bersatu wings at the party's 8th AGM at the IDCC Centre here on Saturday (Sept 6).
He added that there is currently a “love triangle” in SabBersatu, Hajiji Noor, Sabah, Perikatan Nasional, Gabungan Rakyat Sabahah among the governing parties.
“They are supposedly together but are constantly clashing with one another,” he said.
In the last state election, Bersatu nominated Hajiji as its Chief Minister candidate if it won. Consequently, the then GRS, of which Perikatan was a member, won the state election and named Hajiji as the next Chief Minister.
However, in March 2022, Hajiji became the first official chairman of the registered political coalition party in Sabah, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah Party (GRS). Under Hajiji's leadership, GRS then formed a unity government with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (Barisan), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and other parties after the 15th General Election.
On December 10, 2022, Hajiji led Bersatu Sabah leaders to leave the party and become direct members of GRS.
