KIMANIS: Collaboration between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalitions in Sabah is vital to ensure joint victory in the 15th General Election (GE15), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob.
He said it is important for both to have strong solidarity between them in order to win the seats they are contesting in the GE15.
“What is important in GE15 is not how many parliamentary seats that we contest, but on winning the seats. We are contesting with one intention which is to win all the seats.
“That is why the cooperation between BN and GRS is essential because I believe we can win in the election when there is a solid camaraderie between the two partners in the State Government,” he said.
Ismail said this in his welcoming speech at the launch of BN Gelombang Biru Zone 3 (Kimanis, Papar, Beaufort, Sipitang) by BN National Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Kimanis Commercial centre, Sunday.
Also present were BN Vice Chairman Datuk Arthur Kurup who is also Deputy President of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS); BN Secretary General Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir; BN Treasurer General Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein; Sabah BN Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and GRS Supreme Council Member Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif who represented GRS Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
Ismail said BN could compete in all 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah and clash with its partner GRS, but the ending may not be in their favour.
As what would happen in the end is that what BN aims to pursue, it may not get, while losing out on what it already has like a Malay proverb ‘Yang dikejar tak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran’
Therefore, the Umno Vice President, said Umno in BN and its components and its partner GRS must be in solidarity in order to win the GE15.
Apart from strengthening solidarity with other parties, he said solidarity within BN itself is important to ensure that the party remains intact and there is a strong unity shown between him and Zahid who is also the Umno President.
Ismail said there were attempts to split (cooperation) him and the Umno President which led for both to take the initiative to meet the grassroots and explained that they have strong ties and cannot be split.
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