Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno are considering opening their doors to political cooperation with any party, including Warisan, in the next State election (PRN).
Its leader Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said they would most probably consider parties that can contribute to BN and Umno victories in Sabah.
However, it needs to be discussed as to which party they would work with.
Bung Moktar, who is BN Sabah Chairman cum Sabah Umno Liaision head, said after chairing a meeting of Sabah Umno, Sunday.
Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal showed willingness to work with Sabah Umno in the next election.
With Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan as deputy, Bung said he is confident the combination would ensure Sabah Umno stays relevant.
“Abdul Rahman is new to the position of Sabah Umno deputy head but has been in the party for a long time.
“We are both well-experienced politicians at state and national levels and through this combination, we will use our expertise to ensure Sabah Umno’s remain in the hearts of the people in the state,” he said. Abdul Rahman told reporters personally he has no problem with the leadership of Bung Moktar.
“The way I look at this, I see that we need the strength of all, Bung Moktar has been a leader for a long time, and there is no problem between all of us.
“We want to serve the party with only one hope that Sabah Umno will return to be the core party in the Sabah government,” he said.
On the new main leadership committee in Sabah Umno, Bung Moktar said changes that have been made in the new committee including 15 various councils, secretariats and bureaus, among others were aimed to ensure Umno continues to relevant in Sabah.
He said he has given emphases that Election Department and Department of Information and Social Media need to be revolutionised in a large scale to show that Umno is not outdated and it is a party that wants positive changes with a struggle that will not go against the tide.
“We will work hard and make sure that we will get the people’s mandate to be the next government of Sabah in the next State election,” he said.
Bung said three assemblymen have been sacked, namely Sugut assemblyman Datuk James Ratib, Tempasuk assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari and Pantai Dalit assemblyman Datuk Jasnih Daya.
Few months ago, it was reported that these three and Balung assemblyman Datuk Hamild Awang left Umno to support Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor and joined Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS).
While Tanjung Keramat assemblyman cum Putatan MP Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya who is the Sabah’s Works MInister, he said has only been suspended.
To a question, he said Tanjung Batu assemblyman cum Kalabakan MP Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, who has been appointed as an assistant minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship in the GRS-led Sabah governjment, has not been given disciplinary action.
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