KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has told his Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) counterpart Hajiji Noor that he is well-versed in Sabah politics.
“I am a veteran and I understand (Sabah politics) well,” he told reporters at the PN headquarters here.
He added he has been dealing with Sabah politicians for over 40 years.
Muhyiddin was asked to comment on Hajiji’s remarks over PN’s decision to allow Ronald Kiandee to defend the Beluran seat on its ticket.
Under GRS-Barisan Nasional’s electoral pact in Sabah, the Beluran constituency which was formerly held by Kiandee has been given to BN.
Hajiji had previously dismissed Muhyiddin’s views on the seat allocation for Beluran after the Bersatu president insisted that it should have gone to a candidate from PN.
Hajiji has said that the politics in Sabah was a “bit different” and unique. “So, we deal with it the Sabah way,” he said last week.
Sabah BN has fielded former Sandakan district council president Benedict Asmat as its candidate in Beluran.
Muhyiddin defended Kiandee’s decision to seek re-election on a PN ticket, saying that GRS should not have sacrificed Bersatu seats when it negotiated with BN.
Reminding Hajiji that Kiandee is the former Beluran MP, Muhyiddin also pointed out that Kiandee is a Bersatu vice-president. “So if he is not given a watikah (candidate’s letter of appointment), what would you do if you were in my chair, brother?,” said Muhyiddin.
“We have to save him from all the treatment he is facing in Sabah by offering him PN’s ticket and at least give him a chance to stand. I think I acted fairly and reasonably to protect not only Ronald’s position, but also PN’s position.”
If Kiandee won the seat, GRS’ position in Beluran would be reinforced as he is from Bersatu, a component party of GRS, said Muhyiddin. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.