KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said it was impossible for Barisan Nasional (BN) to cooperate with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the upcoming state election, citing unfair seat negotiations.
Bung Moktar, who is also the Kinabatangan member of Parliament, said earlier discussions with GRS fell through after his party was offered only eight seats, a proposal he described as unacceptable.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called me in Parliament and asked if there was any way to work with (GRS chairman Datuk Seri) Hajiji (Noor).
“I told him no… they only offered us eight seats, which was unacceptable.
“It is difficult to negotiate with GRS. They even want to take our seats, including the six formerly held by Umno members who had defected, such as (Deputy Chief Minister Datuk) Shahelmey’s (Yahya) seat in Tanjung Keramat, Tempasuk, and others,” he said at a media gathering here last night.
Also present were Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir, Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) adviser Datuk Muguntan Vanar, and SJA president Mariah Doksil.
He said negotiations between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) had yet to fully resolve the seat distribution issue, with both coalitions seeking to secure specific constituencies.
Bung Moktar also described the 17th Sabah election as “final battle” to ensure BN returns to power and regains control of the state government.
He said this message had been conveyed to Umno leaders and members in Sabah so that BN could once again play a significant role in the state administration rather than remain in the opposition.
Bung Moktar said Umno and BN were different from other Sabah-based political parties that relied solely on the charisma of a single leader to stay relevant, giving them an advantage in maintaining their presence even as leadership changed.
“Umno is different.
“When one leader steps down, 20 others will rise to replace him. That is what makes Umno unique.
“So, I told Sabah Umno this is our ‘last battle’ and I see very good chances for Umno and BN. And such opportunities do not come often.”
Bung Moktar, who will defend his Lamag state seat, admitted, however, that the state polls would be a challenging election due to the number of competing parties and coalitions as well as difficulties in reaching consensus, particularly over seat allocations.
On last night’s media gathering, Bung Moktar said it was not merely a social event but a platform to strengthen strategic communication between political leaders and the media ahead of the state polls.
He said the media played a crucial role as a communication bridge between the people and political leadership.
“In the new political era, the people’s voice is not only shaped in Parliament or on the campaign stage, but also through media discourse.
“Building a constructive relationship with journalists is part of Sabah Umno’s communication strategy to ensure accurate and balanced information reaches the people,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
