Annuar Musa warns of over-confidence in Sabah, after Slim victory

Annuar Musa (4th from left) attending the Federal Territory level 63rd National Day celebration, held at  Dataran Putrajaya this morning. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Annuar Musa says there is no reason to feel over-confident about the party’s chances at the Sabah state elections next month, following the resounding win in the Slim by-election.

The more important lesson, he said was to not forget BN’s defeat at the 14th general election (GE14).

“This is a reminder to party members and myself too, that yesterday’s victory does not mean we will have an easy path in Sabah.

“While we are grateful that we won with a resounding majority, we mustn’t get carried away,” he told a media conference after attending a civil service cavalry parade in conjunction with the Federal Territory level 63rd National Day celebration today.

Annuar urged the component parties of PN, BN and Muafakat Nasional to treat every election seriously regardless of it being a by-election, state election or general election.

“We cannot take for granted that victory is guaranteed. We need to work hard and smart, and not to take things easily,” he said.

Last night, BN defended the Slim state seat with a five-fold increase in the majority from the 2,183-vote majority in GE14.

BN’s Mohd Zaidi Aziz garnered 13,060 votes to beat two independent candidates, Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi and S Santharasekaran with a majority of 10,945 votes.

The Sabah state polls are slated for Sept 26. Sabah Umno alongside MCA and PBRS will be part of the BN coalition while Perikatan Nasional (PN) is made up of PPBM Sabah, STAR and SAPP with PBS and PAS being PN allies in the state.

Annuar also took Nur Jazlan Mohamed to task after the Johor Umno deputy chief had asked Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to stop “making deals” in order to garner support for the PN government.

He said Nur Jazlan was not right in his approach and that the statement was unnecessary.

“As BN secretary-general, my advice is that we practice a purer form of politics and avoid making such negative statements.”

Nur Jazlan yesterday claimed Muhyiddin was busy “making deals” in order to garner the support of MPs before the tabling of the budget in October and to stay in power.

He also said Muhyiddin needed to accept the fact that PPBM and PN are in a very fragile situation. - FMT