Bung baffled as Rahman hints at sitting out Sabah polls, offers Sulaman seat

 

Bung Moktar Radin is confident that Umno members in Tuaran, especially in Sulaman, will support Abdul Rahman Dahlan if he contests the state seat in the Sabah polls.

PETALING JAYA: 

Sabah Umno is prepared to field its deputy chief, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, as a candidate in one of the four state constituencies under the Tuaran parliamentary seat, particularly Sulaman, in the upcoming state election.

Sulaman is currently held by chief minister Hajiji Noor. The other constituencies in Tuaran are Pantai Dalit, Tamparuli, and Kiulu.

In the 2020 state election, Barisan Nasional (BN) secured Pantai Dalit through Jasnih Daya, who left Umno in 2023 to join Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.

Sabah Umno chairman Bung Moktar Radin said Rahman’s position as Tuaran Umno chief and his Sulaman roots made him a strong contender to represent BN in the area.

“Umno supporters there are ready to back him because they believe in his capabilities,” he said in an interview with FMT, adding that Umno leaders should contest in their home bases rather than “shopping” for seats.

Rahman was the MP for Kota Belud from 2008 to 2018. He took a risk in contesting Sepanggar during the 14th general election, eventually losing to Warisan’s Azis Jamman.

Hoping for a comeback in GE15, he returned to Kota Belud but suffered another defeat – this time to Warisan’s Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, who won with a 4,582-vote majority.

Bung was responding to a Daily Express report on Tuesday in which Rahman had hinted at stepping aside if Umno decided not to nominate him for the Sabah election.

The former federal minister said he would consider contesting if the party required him to do so.

“Honestly, I was shocked and surprised by my deputy’s statement,” Bung said.

“This kind of matter (election candidacy) should be discussed at party meetings.” - FMT