SANDAKAN – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reminded Sabah Umno members to strengthen the party first before negotiating with any other political party in the upcoming Sabah election.
“Let’s hold on to this principle: don’t negotiate when we are weak. We negotiate when we have strength. Let’s build strength first, then negotiate. InsyaAllah, the person we negotiate with will want to be with us,” he said.
Zahid said this during his speech at the launch of the Kimanis division Umno delegates meeting in Papar today.
He also expressed confidence that Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin will successfully rebuild the party’s strength and establish dominance in the state.
“Nobody wants to follow weak people. Give confidence to our members and leaders that when we manage to build strength, surely Umno will return to its former glory in Sabah,” he said.
Yesterday, Zahid launched the Tuaran division Umno delegates meeting, where he was seen having a friendly interaction with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who was also in attendance.
Bung Moktar, however, was absent from this meeting but later attended the delegate meeting in Sepanggar yesterday afternoon, where Hajiji was not present.
Zahid, in his speech in Tuaran, emphasised that political stability should be the top priority within the context of the unity government at the federal level.
He also stated his principle of maintaining friendly relations with all parties and individuals who are not his adversaries.
Meanwhile, in another development, Bung Moktar said Sabah Umno is open to collaborating with any party except Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), a component party within GRS.
He cited PBS’s history of repeatedly betraying BN and criticised PBS leaders for urging people to reject Umno on the basis that it originates from West Malaysia.
“In the 1990s, PBS withdrew support from BN after nomination day, winning 14 Parliament seats through electoral manipulation.
“I want to make it clear to PBS, and to Sabah Star, don’t play with Sabah Umno. We are not shaken,” he told Umno delegates in Sepanggar yesterday.
Bung Moktar’s remarks marked an intriguing development, especially considering Sabah Umno’s cordial relations with the Sabah opposition party Parti Warisan.
Despite Warisan’s repeated invitations for PBS to collaborate, which have been openly extended, PBS has consistently declined.
Instead, in April this year, PBS signed a memorandum of understanding with Sabah Star to unite under the GRS coalition for the upcoming state polls, focusing on Kadazandusun Murut-majority seats. – June 23, 2024