SANDAKAN: Perikatan Nasional has ruled out working with its former component party Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) in the Sabah election, says its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic).
“We had an experience that wasn’t very good. If you ask Datuk Ronald (Kiandee) or Datuk Hamzah (Zainudin), they would probably say ‘it’s fine, let them be’.
“We are ready (to contest) even without them. What we already have is sufficient,” he said when met during the launch of the Perikatan election machinery for the Sabah election.
SAPP, led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, left Perikatan in December 2024.
Just recently, the party pulled out of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah to contest the state election independently.
Muhyiddin said the coalition has almost completed discussions with like-minded parties to strengthen its chances in the upcoming state election.
Perikatan will announce its candidates on Tuesday.
He said the coalition’s visits and observations on the ground showed encouraging response, even in areas previously thought to have little support.
He said the coalition’s manifesto will outline Perikatan’s commitments for Sabah’s development and governance.
Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said if Perikatan is given the mandate to form the Sabah government, it would ensure a clean, transparent and fair administration.
“We will make sure that the wealth of Sabah is distributed fairly to every Sabahan.
“We are against corruption, and we will make sure that the next Sabah administration under Perikatan will be a clean government,” he said.
On Sabah’s right to 40% of federal revenue collected from the state, Muhyiddin said all parties must abide by the Federal Constitution.
“Whatever is in the Constitution, we should abide by it. I think it has been kept in abeyance for quite a long time, but now that things are brought to court and the court has made a ruling, we have to respect it,” he said.
“I’m all for it, especially when it comes to the rights of Sabahans. There could be some problems which the Federal Government has to resolve, but there should be some negotiation with the state to find a fair and just solution.”
