Jumat Idris pledges to throw his support behind Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan if the minister is fielded there instead.
KOTA KINABALU: BN-friendly independent Sepanggar MP Jumat Idris is prepared for any eventuality, including being replaced as the ruling coalition’s candidate in the upcoming general election.
Jumat also said he will support Rahman Dahlan if the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department is fielded by the ruling coalition as a candidate there instead.
Jumat is currently serving a suspension as Umno’s Sepanggar division chief for his alleged criticism of the government and suggesting a succession plan for the Sabah chief ministership.
Rahman, who is now Kota Belud MP, was last year touted to be BN’s candidate for Sepanggar, replacing Jumat, and said to have received the support from the acting Sepanggar Umno division chief.
“I leave this matter to the prime minister and chief minister. I have no objection to this because I’m not connected to it as I’m partyless,” Jumat told reporters during a pre-Chinese New Year gathering in Menggatal near here today.
“I can’t really comment but if they choose Rahman, there’s nothing much we can do but we can give support to Rahman if he is the choice of the leadership.”
Nevertheless, Jumat still harbours hopes that he will be allowed to defend his seat under BN’s banner and indicated that Prime Minister and BN chairman Najib Razak may still favour him.
Jumat said he will defend his constituency if he is given a chance to do so but said it was up to the prime minister and Sabah chief minister Musa Aman.
“I’m convinced that they know what’s in our hearts,” said Jumat.
“I’m still under suspension and I can’t contest under any party. The prime minister has advised me to keep working hard for the constituents and the PM’s Office has given me allocations,” he said.
“Having been in politics for 41 years, the prime minister is experienced and we have to look at the signals he’s giving.
“The candidate that the prime minister wants must be winnable, likeable and loyal to the party.”
It was reported that BN’s support in Sepanggar may have been split with one camp leaning towards Jumat and the other towards the current BN divisional leadership.
The reported lack of a big crowd at the government-sponsored launch of an RM82-million tunnel in Sepanggar showed BN had lost its grip, it was said.
Jumat, who had won the seat on BN’s ticket with an overwhelming 9,442-vote majority in the last election, denied this allegation and urged BN’s supporters to stay united.
“BN’s support and the rakyat are not split. But bear in mind that more work needs to be done by BN components so that they are not divided or else it would be easy for the opposition to win.
“We don’t want divisive peninsular politics to be practised here because Sabah’s politics is one of harmony and unity.
“I will not let us be divided and fight each other.”
Jumat, who was suspended in 2015, also denied reports that his suspension had been reduced to three years but said he expected his suspension to be lifted after the general election.
“I haven’t received a letter from Umno headquarters saying my suspension has been reduced to three years, so I assume my suspension is still for six years.”
Jumat also pledged to work more on people’s housing, rising cost of living and youth unemployment if he successfully defends his seat in the upcoming polls. -FMT
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