KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has billed the coming 17th state election as the party’s “final battle” to win back the state government for Barisan Nasional (BN).
According to national daily Berita Harian, Bung urged Umno leaders and members in Sabah to seize the chance for BN to return to power and shed its role as Opposition.
He also argued that unlike smaller local parties built around individual personalities, Umno‘s strength lies in its ability to endure leadership changes.
“Look at Parti Warisan — without Shafie (Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal), it’s finished. STAR (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku) depends on Jeffrey (Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan), PGRS (Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah) depends on Hajiji (Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor).
“But Umno is different. When one leader goes, 20 can step up. That’s Umno’s uniqueness and strength. I told Sabah Umno this is our ‘last battle’, and I see a very good chance for Umno and BN. Opportunities like this don’t come often,” he reportedly said at a media gathering in Kota Kinabalu last night.
Bung, who will defend his Lamag state seat, admitted the state election would be complicated by the crowded field of parties and coalitions and by fraught seat negotiations. Talks between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have yet to settle seat allocations, he said.
On earlier discussions with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), the Kinabatangan MP said Umno rejected an offer of only eight seats.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called me in Parliament to ask if there was a way to work with Hajiji (GRS chairman). I told him no… giving us only eight seats is unacceptable.
“It’s hard to negotiate with GRS. They even wanted seats that were ours, including six held by former Umno members who defected earlier, such as Shahelmey’s (Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya) seat in Tanjung Keramat, Tempasuk and others,” he said.
Bung said that Umno would contest all its traditional seats, including those lent to other parties in the 2020 state election, with a target of around 40 constituencies through cooperation with PH.
