Sanusi: Harapan-BN will break first, Sabah polls may expose cracks

 

Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor is confident that Perikatan Nasional will remain strong and united until the 16th general election, despite facing various political perceptions.

He argued instead that Pakatan Harapan and BN are more likely to collapse first, adding that cracks may emerge, particularly in the upcoming Sabah election, given the current political developments in the state.

“So far, PN has not discussed any preparations for the Sabah election. We’ll watch them (Harapan-BN) quarrel first.

“PN also shows no signs of splitting. The ones that will break first are Harapan and BN,” Sinar Harian reported him saying in a press conference in Bukit Kayu Hitam.

Sanusi, who is also PAS and PN election director, said all aspects and current political circumstances would be taken into consideration before PN makes any decisions regarding the Sabah polls.

“We are watching how the situation develops. For now, everything is fine, nothing to be worried about. PN shows no signs of breaking up; it will be Harapan and BN that break first,” he stressed.

He added that the evolving political landscape has become increasingly complex, and all parties - including Harapan, BN and PAS - need to adapt and adjust their strategies.

“It’s not easy to manage this new politics because the patterns are no longer the same as before. All parties must adapt and shift strategies, especially when facing the competition and challenges of the Sabah election, which looks to be more complicated,” he reportedly said.

‘No turmoil’

Sanusi also stressed that PN is always ready for any election and is not facing internal problems as alleged.

Commenting on speculation that PN was in turmoil following the recent PAS muktamar due to the issue of its prime ministerial candidate, Sanusi said the matter was resolved.

“That issue has cooled down, so don’t heat it up again. There’s nothing to prolong as there is no turmoil. Even in this programme, we have representatives from Bersatu, and everything is fine.

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“It was just a normal reminder. Once the muktamar ended, that was it,” he explained.

Sanusi said PAS has just completed reorganising its committee following the muktamar, and he has been reappointed as election director.

“From now on, my work is to attack people, that’s my election hobby, attacking people,” he joked.

Clash over election expenses

During the recently concluded PAS' 71st muktamar in Kedah, Sanusi claimed that the Islamist party had to fork out a huge sum to cover election costs for their allies.

“They do not have the machinery, they do not have money. Everything they did depended on us. But they want to be the leader?” the PAS election director asked in his speech.

In a rebuttal, Marzuki Mohamad, who served as principal private secretary to former prime minister and current Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin – the linchpin of PN – insisted that Bersatu had borne its own election expenses during the previous polls.

He also said that Bersatu had provided PAS with “substantial financial contributions”, which helped the PN ally secure 43 seats.

The exchanges created a tense atmosphere within PN, which is already beset by internal issues.

At today’s press conference, when asked whether the PN supreme council had met since the PAS muktamar to discuss issues such as the election logo and the prime ministerial candidate, Sanusi replied that no date had yet been set.

“They will call everyone involved when the time comes. We’ll attend the meeting, but so far no meeting has been held,” Sanusi was quoted as saying. - Mkini