Ahead of Bossku's arrival, CM says won't bar Najib from Sabah

SANDAKAN POLLS | Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal has assured that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak will not be barred from the state.

This comes a day before Najib is set to bring his 'Malu apa, bossku (What is there to be ashamed of, my boss)' brand to the Sandakan by-election campaign.

"We do not have any prohibition against anyone. Anyone who wants to come, it is up to them because they are Malaysians," he told journalists after visiting Pulau Berhala.

"If they want to come, then come, they have the right to do so. We don't want them to claim that they are barred. 

"As chief minister, I have never given any directive to bar anyone from coming." 

Najib, who is facing 42 charges of corruption, money laundering and abuse of power, rebranded himself as 'Bossku' earlier this year, and used it as a platform for his campaigns.

Under the previous BN government in Sabah, the barring of opposition politicians from entering the state was a common practice. Both Sabah and Sarawak control their own immigration.

Voters will cast their ballots in the Sandakan by-election this Saturday.

The contest will see a five-cornered fight, even if it is a largely a two-horse race between DAP's Vivian Wong and PBS' Linda Tsen.

The three independent candidates are Chia Siew Yung, Hamzah Abdullah and Sulaiman Abdul Samat.

The by-election was called following the passing of Vivian's father Stephen Wong, who was the incumbent MP. - Mkini