Bung Rejects Grs Says Sabah Umno Will Not Bow To Deceit Or Greed For Power

---

 


Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, in rejecting cooperation with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah for the upcoming state polls, said his party will not bow to deceit and power-grabbing politics.
ADSTargeting Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Bung (above, right) said the GRS chairperson had deceived him the very day the state cabinet was sworn in.
He claimed Hajiji had lied about a state minister position by swapping it for another role without the former's knowledge.
"We will not be followers of party-hopping politics, will not collude with deceit, and will not bow to the greed for power," Bung said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Sabah Umno treasurer Salleh Said Keruak said GRS' offer for the party to contest only eight seats in the upcoming 17th Sabah election was "deeply hurtful" and eventually derailed negotiations to form an alliance.
Salleh said this was because Umno is an incumbent in 14 seats from its victories in the previous state election.
Sabah Umno treasurer Salleh Said KeruakThe day before, Umno president and BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Umno would exclusively cooperate with Pakatan Harapan for the upcoming Sabah polls, thus rejecting all possibilities for pre-election cooperation with GRS.
The announcement ended speculations over whether there would be a three-way pact between BN, Harapan, and GRS.
‘Kinabalu Move’
Commenting further, Bung said BN's decision not to cooperate with GRS showed that the party's central leadership respected the autonomy of its Sabah chapter.
He asserted that the so-called "Kinabalu Move" - a failed attempt to unseat Hajiji as the chief minister in 2023 - was not a betrayal.
Instead, it was a response to Hajiji's failed leadership, Bung added.
"I emphasise here, I am ready to debate with anyone on the Kinabalu Move," Bung said, specifically naming Hajiji as well as his Assistant Minister Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
ADS"We can debate anywhere, not just shouting on TikTok like a rooster crowing at dawn but afraid to go down to the ring.
"Politics is not a stage to sell stale language on social media. It is a field of argument and truth," Bung said.
The Kinabalu Move began in January 2023 after Sabah BN withdrew its support from Hajiji, citing breach of trust.
Hajiji ultimately survived the crisis with Harapan’s support, with several Umno assemblypersons refusing to abandon him.
Bung went on to express his confidence that BN could win back the Sebatik state seat, following a visit there yesterday.
"The people of Sebatik know how to judge who is consistent in fighting for their fate, and who only shows up when they want to grab power," he added. - Mkini

---