PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional will announce its candidates for the Sabah election next week, of whom 80% will be fresh faces, says coalition chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“I will make the announcement when I travel to Kota Kinabalu next week,” he told reporters when asked whether Barisan would contest fewer than 48 seats.
He said the coalition’s decision to field new candidates reflects its commitment to renewal with the aim of engaging and winning over young voters in Sabah.
Ahmad Zahid also confirmed that seat allocation negotiations between Barisan and Pakatan Harapan are nearly complete, with around 95% of them finalised.
“Only a few technical details remain under discussion,” he said.
The Election Commission has set nomination day for the state election on Nov 15, while polling is on Nov 29.
There are 73 contested seats in the Sabah State Assembly.
On another matter, Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno president, said the party has yet to discuss sacked member Khairy Jamaluddin’s intention to rejoin the party.
“So far, not yet,” he said when asked about the former Umno Youth chief’s reported interest in returning to the party.
Ahmad Zahid said he did meet Khairy at a wedding last Sunday but declined to confirm or deny claims that he had given his blessing for Khairy’s return.
Several media outlets had reported that Khairy is expected to rejoin Umno before the Sabah election later this month.
According to reports, the former health minister had received the “blessing” of Umno’s top leadership, particularly Ahmad Zahid himself.
In January 2023, Khairy was expelled for openly criticising the party’s leadership during the 15th General Election campaign.
Since then, he has repeatedly affirmed his decision not to join any other party out of loyalty to Umno.
