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SABAH Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has officially announced a political alliance between the Sabah divisions of Umno and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in preparation for the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17).
Speaking at his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house last night, Bung said the collaboration was cemented during a retreat held by Umno Sabah late last year.
“Even during this Raya celebration, there are many rumours and questions about who Umno Sabah is partnering with,” he said.
“I said we are indeed forming a coalition, but had not yet announced it. Today (last night), I want to announce that Umno Sabah has held a retreat at one point and decided to collaborate with PH.”
According to Bung, the partnership follows a series of informal meetings with PH Sabah leaders, with formal discussions to take place soon. He said the announcement aims to clarify widespread public speculation surrounding BN’s electoral strategy.
The Kinabatangan MP also stated that while BN’s primary coalition partner will be PH, the door remains open to other parties—provided they demonstrate loyalty and a shared commitment to Sabah’s development.
“We will consider collaborating with other parties. Although some claim local parties should be prioritised, we also have our own issues with these parties,” he said.
“I will share more during the election campaign about the pros and cons of local parties. Sabah has been led by local parties for decades, yet development remains stagnant or has regressed.”
He declined to name any specific local parties or confirm whether Parti Warisan might be included in the coalition.
Despite BN’s status as a national coalition, Bung stressed that Sabah would remain under the stewardship of Sabahans. He noted that most current Umno Sabah leaders are relatively new to leadership roles, with the exception of party treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.
“The rest of us are all new faces, and we are deeply committed to advancing Sabah and resolving longstanding issues—such as water, roads, and electricity—prioritising the people's needs,” Bung said. “That’s our goal, and we believe that if we make promises and fail to deliver, the people will kick us out after the election.”
On seat distribution, Bung confirmed that BN intends to defend the 41 seats it contested in the previous state election (PRN16) held in September 2020. He added that seats would be allocated based on the strength of a party’s grassroots support rather than a rigid quota system.
“Our priority is for parties with a strong support base to be given opportunities,” he explained. “Elections are about winning, not just filling quotas. If the quota leads to losses, we’re done for.”
Bung also confirmed his intention to defend the Lamag state seat in PRN17.
Earlier, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, speaking at his own Hari Raya open house in Putrajaya last night, said discussions with PH and other Sabah-based political coalitions are still ongoing.
“Ideally, once all party leaders can reach a consensus, regardless of which coalition they belong to, an official announcement will be made,” Zahid said. “However, for now, negotiations are still ongoing with many parties.”
Despite Zahid’s statement suggesting continued deliberations, Bung maintained that the Sabah BN–PH pact has already been agreed upon and will move forward. – April 14, 2025