KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno, which stayed out of the Sandakan by-election in May, is hoping its former Barisan Nasional ally Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) would return favour by allowing the Malay party take on Warisan in the upcoming Kimanis by-election.
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin confirmed there have been unofficial meetings between the two parties, with Umno hoping PBS would stay out of the contest.
“These talks have been very positive. We will make the talks official soon,” he said, adding that further talks would be held on the sidelines of Christmas parties today.
Sabah Umno plans to announce its candidate for Kimanis on Jan 1.
PBS has yet to decide whether to contest the by-election, which is being called following the Federal Court’s decision to nullify the victory of former foreign minister Anifah Aman.
PBS president Maximus Ongkili had said the party enjoyed support from the grassroots in Kimanis.
“If we decide not to contest, PBS will support any political party whose struggle is to protect the state’s rights, as stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and defend Sabah from being populated by illegal immigrants,” Ongkili had said.
In the Sandakan by-election, Umno backed PBS candidate Linda Tsen against DAP’s Vivian Wong.
Ongkili was reported to have said that PBS did not owe favours to any political party except the people.
There are 29,664 registered voters in Kimanis, with 52% comprising Bumiputera Muslims, 41% non-Muslim Bumiputeras, and about 6% Chinese. - FMT
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