Don't 'fight' for CM post but lose election - Umno VP

SABAH POLLS: Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob has cautioned against losing focus by "fighting" over the Sabah chief minister's post at the expense of victory in the state polls.

"Let us not cause an outcry, fighting for the chief minister's post, but in the end we do not win this election.

"The important thing is to bring down the Warisan government and return BN to power, along with our allies in other parties," said the senior minister in charge of security.

He was speaking at a press conference after launching Libaran BN's election machinery for the N50 Gum Gum, N51 Sungai Manila, and N52 Sungai Sibuga state seats.

"We cross the (election) bridge first before discussing other matters," said Ismail when asked for comments on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's remarks earlier today.

Muhyiddin had earlier mooted Sabah Bersatu chief Hajiji Mohd Noor as a possible Sabah chief minister candidate if the state opposition coalition wins.

However, Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, qualified his statement by saying that this would also require agreement from his party's allies.

"Who knows, if our partners in PN and also BN agree, the best we can offer as the candidate to helm the state is none other than Hajiji," said Muhyiddin to cheers from a crowd in Tuaran where he made an appearance to support Hajiji who is defending the Sulaman seat.

Ismail further reiterated Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's response to Muhyiddin's remarks, that the chief minister candidate will only be determined after the election is over.

"The Umno president has explained that even for Umno, we must first ensure victory before discussing the chief minister candidate," he said.

Earlier in his speech to launch the Libaran BN machinery, Ismail restated the need for BN to wrest the state administration from Warisan to ensure easier coordination for development if both federal and state governments are under PN rule.

Also present was Umno Kedah state liaison chief Jamil Khir Baharom who said he would be assisting the BN machinery in Libaran and neighbouring Beluran. - Mkini