Sabah Bn Eyeing 38 Seats In State Polls Hints At Going Solo

---

 
In the last state election, Sabah Barisan Nasional only managed to win 14 seats. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Sabah Barisan Nasional will likely contest 38 of the 73 seats in the state election this year, with a source hinting that the coalition would go solo.
According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Sabah BN would also likely forge an alliance with other parties after the election to form the next state government.
The Sabah Umno source said the party is targeting to win at least 27 seats, which would provide it the leverage needed to demand the chief minister’s post once the election is over.
The source also said BN would be represented by Umno and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) in the election, while ally MCA would be advised to sit out the contest and help the coalition’s candidates.
In the 2020 state election, MCA lost all the four seats – Kapayan, Elopura, Karamunting and Likas – it contested in.
“Sabah BN winning 27 of the 38 seats it is vying for is a realistic goal and one that is achievable based on our survey on the ground.
“The prospects of forming an alliance with other parties will be brighter if we win 27 seats, which means we need only 10 more seats to secure a simple majority of 37 seats to form the next government,” the source told FMT.
In the last state election, BN won 14 seats and was for three years part of the state government until a failed coup to oust chief minister Hajiji Noor in January 2023.
Going solo
The source said Sabah BN was preparing to go solo in the state election since no decision has been made on collaborating with others, including Pakatan Harapan.
PH and BN are partners in the federal government.
The source said Sabah BN would have preferred to retain the same formula adopted at the federal level.
“But we are certain there would not be any collaboration with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS),” the source said, referring to the ruling coalition.
“In fact, we are prepared to go head on with their candidates, especially those from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.”
GRS is headed by Hajiji.
Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously said the coalition would join forces with PH for the Sabah polls, which must be held before the end of the year. He, however, did not discount the possibility of collaborating with GRS. - FMT

---