Sabah Umno open for negotiations, except for pro-Warisan parties

Sabah Umno is willing to consider working with any party for the next general election apart from those that are aligned with Warisan, said Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin.

He said there were already plans to hold talks with Sabah Bersatu, but was stalled when the movement control order was announced.

“We’ll do that (negotiate with Bersatu). It’s just that it was stopped by the movement control order. I will personally talk to Sabah Bersatu president Hajiji Mohd Noor.

“God willing, we will discuss with Bersatu after the order expires to plan strategies for facing Warisan at the general election. Sabah Umno is prepared to negotiate with any party that is not with Warisan,” he said on Wednesday.

He said this when asked to explain why Perikatan Nasional has not established itself in Sabah.

He was speaking at a talk show moderated by Noor Azizan Abdul Majid, which was broadcasted live on Facebook.

Meanwhile, the Kinabatangan MP admitted that there is discontent towards the federal government.

“Sabah Umno is still stable, although some people say there’s been a little ‘wave’ (of discontent) since PN was established.

“This is because Umno leaders in Sabah felt slighted when not one of its two MPs were chosen to the PN cabinet.

“The same goes for GLCs – Umno Sabah was left out. Some of our leaders are angry towards the prime minister,” he said.

Balance of power in Sabah

He added that there must be ‘balance’ between Umno and Bersatu in Sabah.

“There must be strength in Sabah Umno as a supporter in the formation of PN, whereas (Sabah) Bersatu all got official positions, but Sabah Umno did not.

“How are we going to face the coming general election? There should be a balance between the two parties, and that’s what Sabah Umno leaders are demanding,” he said.

He said he would meet Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to voice Sabah Umno’s views on the ‘unfair allocation’ of political appointments.

“This is not because we are angry, but to ensure balance in facing the 15th general election,” he said.

Previously, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had penned a letter to Muhyiddin asking for several Sabah Umno leaders to be appointed to lead government agencies.

Among others, Zahid asked Muhyiddin to appoint Bung as the Sabah Federal Development Department chairperson. - Mkini