Naming Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin as Barisan Nasional’s “poster boy” for the upcoming state election may be a risky move, an analyst says.
Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah pointed out that Bung is linked to the failed attempt to overthrow chief minister Hajiji Noor in 2023, so making him BN‘s “poster boy” may jeopardise the coalition’s chances and, ultimately, accelerate Umno‘s decline in the state.
Bilcher also said several parties share the view that Bung’s leadership style is “sometimes considered rude”.
Although Sabah Umno’s proposal is attracting attention, he told FMT, “From a political strategy perspective, choosing Bung as the ‘face’ of BN could be a risky bet.”
Syahruddin Awang Ahmad, also of UMS, said BN‘s campaign approach should be carefully planned so that Bung’s ongoing corruption trial and his personality issues will not overshadow the coalition’s ambitions in the state election.
Earlier this week, Sabah Umno proposed that Bung, a former deputy chief minister, be made the “poster boy” for the state polls, with its information chief, Suhaimi Nasir, saying that he is the most qualified person for the role.
“It has always been Sabah Umno’s tradition for the state BN chairman to be (our poster boy),” he said in an interview with selected media.
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, said it is not the time yet to determine the “poster boy” candidate because the priority is to ensure victory for the BN candidates in the election.
Several analysts are of the view that discussions with other parties on cooperation in facing the state election will come to a halt if BN names its “poster boy” now.
The Sabah election must be held by December.
