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BERSATU and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition have identified a suitable candidate for the post of Chief Minister should they emerge victorious in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election, according to party deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
However, Hamzah remained tight-lipped on the identity of the candidate, saying the announcement would be made only at the last possible moment.
“Of course we have one. But I cannot reveal it now. We will not disclose anything until the final days,” he told reporters after officiating the party's annual general assembly for its wings in Kota Kinabalu today.
“You can already see the future leaders among the young generation and figures in Sabah who are not only capable of taking over but also of continuing the struggle for the people’s future. We are confident we will put forth the right person.
“It is obvious that in Sabah, the candidate for Chief Minister must be a Sabahan. We will provide full support to our allies there to ensure victory,” he said.
Among those present at the event were Srikandi chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Armada chief Muhammad Hilman Idham, Srikandi Muda chief Nurul Ezzati Azmi, and Allied Wing head Dr Chong Fat Full.
Addressing the broader political landscape, Hamzah, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, claimed that internal divisions within the current ruling coalition may provide an electoral advantage to PN.
“Look at what we’re hearing now – they claim to be united, but they’re clearly clashing amongst themselves. And who is caught in the middle? The Prime Minister himself,” he said, referring to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The Prime Minister is politically married to both the left and the right, but the left and right won’t even speak to each other. That shows disunity.
“What the people want is better leadership, and we are prepared to step in and offer that confidence,” he added.
Hamzah also addressed BERSATU’s past association with Sabah’s Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“I apologise, yes, Hajiji was once with us. But he took the support we had built together and moved to the other side. Unfortunately, it is the people who are paying the price,” he said.
The Sabah state election is widely expected to be held by the end of this year, with early indicators suggesting multi-cornered contests in most constituencies.
Barisan Nasional (BN) has announced it will not cooperate with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), while Parti Warisan (WARISAN) has decided to contest independently. PN, meanwhile, is expected to align with select local parties and has also opted against collaborating with GRS. - Sept 6, 2025