KOTA KINABALU: Perikatan Nasional (PN) is expected to contest up to 40 seats — an increase from the 36 announced earlier — in the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17) on Nov 29.
Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the final number of seats to be contested by all PN component parties, as well as the list of candidates standing under the coalition’s banner, would be announced on Nov 11.
He said the three PN component parties – Pas, Bersatu and Gerakan – were still in the process of finalising their seat allocations and candidate lists.
“We are still finalising the seats before announcing the candidates and launching our campaign machinery across Sabah on Nov 11.
“All candidate names are being carefully vetted before approval. For Pas, the Shura Council will review all candidates within PN.
“We will also hold a pledge ceremony for all candidates before the letters of appointment are handed out on Nov 11. So, the final decisions on seats and candidates will be made then,” he said at a press conference after launching PN’s campaign machinery for the Karambunai state seat at Taman Sepanggar, near here, today.
Also present were Sabah Pas election director Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Sabah Pas commissioner Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan, who is expected to be the party’s candidate representing PN for the Karambunai state seat.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim said PN was currently focusing on strengthening cooperation among its component parties before considering any alliances with other parties after the PRN17 results are announced.
“What matters now is that we aim to win under the PN banner. As for potential coalitions, that’s not our focus at the moment — we are fully concentrating our efforts on PN,” he said.
Commenting on the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment promoted by local parties, Tuan Ibrahim described it as a normal expression of regional pride, similar to “Bangsa Johor” in Johor and “Gagasan Terengganu Kita” in Terengganu.
He said the sentiment would not affect voter support for national parties, particularly PN, given the long-standing presence of such parties in the state.
“Sabah’s political history is unique — from the beginning, there was Barisan Nasional (BN), and later PN. So, the ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ sentiment doesn’t mean outsiders are not accepted.
“This is not the case in Sabah. Just like Johor’s ‘Bangsa Johor’ and Terengganu’s ‘Gagasan Terengganu Kita’, these are state-based identities.
“In the context of Sabah politics, it has always been dynamic and open. That’s why we are confident Sabah voters will choose PN this time. Although the party president may be from Peninsular Malaysia, PN’s entire leadership in Sabah are Sabahans,” he said.
Additionally, Tuan Ibrahim said the ongoing internal issues within Bersatu would not affect PN’s campaign operations for PRN17.
The PN Pahang chairman said the matter only involved Bersatu’s central leadership in Peninsular Malaysia and must be resolved there, without affecting Sabah.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
