Tenom: Barisan Nasional (BN) will only cooperate with parties that share the same goals of developing the country and uniting the people, said its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, said BN remains open to such cooperation despite having already decided to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to face the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election.
“We are never completely closed off, but we should not open our doors too wide because there are wolves in sheep’s clothing trying to enter and destroy our home,” he said.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});He noted that the global political trend now sees governments being formed through collaboration among several parties.
“The best option is cooperation between BN, PH and like-minded parties. This is necessary because, based on my study, in 77 countries, no single party has been able to form a dominant government.
“As such, we must not be greedy for power… we must be confident in sharing power for unity, harmony, and political consensus, and that is the best way forward for us,” he said.
He said BN members in Sabah must not fall for a “second betrayal” in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election (PRN17).
“Once is enough. Let’s not be fooled a second time. Umno and Barisan in Sabah must be wiser this time in making our choices. Datuk Seri Bung, don’t let them trick you again,” he said, referring to the defection of several assemblymen in early 2023.
“With leaders like Datuk Rahman Dahlan (Sabah Umno deputy chairman) supporting Bung, I believe that if everyone stands united, Sabah can work together with Putrajaya,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid’s remarks referred to the five Barisan assemblymen who left the party on Feb 21, 2023, declaring their support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and joining Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.
They are Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk), Datuk Hamid Awang (Balung), and Datuk James Ratib (Sugut).
Additionally, four Barisan assemblymen remain in the state government, holding positions in the state cabinet: Deputy Chief Minister III and Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Assistant Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Datuk Harun Durabi (Bengkoka), Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (Tanjong Batu), as well as the late Datuk Mohd Hamsan Awang Supain (Sungai Sibuga), who held the position of Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister until his passing on Jan 19.
The Sungai Sibuga seat has remained vacant since.
Of the 73 seats in the Sabah State Assembly, Barisan initially won 16 in the 16th general election, but now holds only 12, including three members in the state government.
He also said there are no more factions within Umno and Barisan Nasional in Sabah.
“There’s no Bung faction, no Abdul Rahman faction, no Salleh faction, and no Yakub Khan faction. There is only one Sabah BN team,” he said.
“We’ve lost twice because we were busy fighting among ourselves, with each leader’s ego getting in the way. As a result, the people paid the price.”
The current state assembly’s term expires on Nov 11 and an election must be held within 60 days of its dissolution.