Positive Ceasefire But Sabah Looks Tough

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IT WAS a positive 'personal ceasefire' between Rahman Dahlan and Bung Mokhtar Raden, the two main stalwarts of Sabah Umno, achieved during president Zahid Hamidi 2-day visit to Sandakan on Sunday. The Merdeka spirit could have had a role in it.
Rahman was quite vocal when Bung was given a free hand in picking up candidates for the state elections on September 26, citing the latter's pending court case which I believed was aimed at Zahid too. To me and to many Umno leaders and members, Bung was sentimental in collecting the bits when Umno lost the GE14 in 2018, and he is fits for the job.
However, let's call it being settled amicably although Rahman said in his FB posting that 'winning Sabah and BN friends in the state elections is more important'. I allow you to contemplate.
Now, the most important and 'eerie' part.
Zahid said in Slim River last week that Umno and friends in MN and Barisan Nasional will use BN logo in Sabah state elections, that all candidates will contest using one common logo which the Sabahans are familiar with.
I couldn't agree more.
But Bersatu and friends in Perikatan Nasional will use PN logo, launched by Prime Minister Muhiddin Yassin in Kota Kinabalu on the weekend. Why didn't the launching take place in Kuala Lumpur? That worries me a lot.
After covering four Sabah state elections, the voters may find it difficult to adapt to new logo changes. They will opt for the ones they are familiarised with. BN has been there for decades, and to have PN logo (which assembles the first Proton Saga logo in 1985 and maybe with that of MCA too) might confuse them.
Having two separate logos from one government to contest in the same elections is not advisable, let alone setting up different machinery and manifesto. What is PN manifesto for Sabah, anyway?
I take it that Rahman-Bung confrontation is over for now but BN-PN 'tug-of-war' has just begun. Why on earth that the PM wants separate logo for Bersatu and friends when the ultimate target for both is to conquer Sabah from Warisan-PH government?
Muhyiddin maybe has different view on the matter but I think this is not healthy at all for both. BN and PN can go separate ways in Sabah, claiming superiority over one another. In the end, Warisan which is led by Shafie Apdal can capitalise on the differences since the party which rules Sabah since May 2018 is deemed better by locals.
Not so right a strategy having BN-PN. Although both will not 'kacau daun' in areas allotted to them, there is a tendency for Independents to prevail as had shown in previous elections.
No, I am not an expert but from the info I gathers, BN-PN will have a tough time in Sabah. They need a strong team with local knowledge. Let Sabahans play the lead role instead of trying to be bosses. Believe me, it will be a slalom!

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