BN Sabah to contest 48 seats in PRN17, majority of candidates to be new faces

KOTA KINABALU (Oct 13): Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah plans to contest 48 seats in the upcoming 17th State Election, said its State Liaison Chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Bung Moktar Radin.

Speaking to reporters after an Umno Sabah leadership meeting here on Monday night, Bung Moktar said the proposal has been submitted to the coalition’s central leadership for approval.

“We have forwarded our proposal to the central leadership, and while it has yet to be officially endorsed, we do not foresee any issues with it because BN Sabah has autonomy,” he said.

The Umno Sabah Chief added that 81 per cent of the coalition’s candidates will be new and young faces, with women candidates also included in the line-up.

He said BN Sabah will unveil its list of candidates a week before nomination day, during which the party will also launch its election machinery.

Bung Moktar also revealed that BN Sabah will launch its new pledges under the Sabah Development Plan, which is aimed at revitalising the economy and ensuring a better future for the people of Sabah.

“We are introducing several new offers for the people of Sabah to strengthen the economy and improve their quality of life. The younger generation will not be left out of our future development plans,” he said.

On the coalition’s electoral cooperation, he confirmed that BN Sabah will continue its partnership with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to maintain political stability in the state and at the national level.

He also disclosed that seat negotiations with PH are “more or less completed,” with only a few seats left to be finalised.

Commenting on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Bung Moktar said the coalition has fractured due to a crisis of confidence.

“They are facing internal conflict, and more importantly, the people’s confidence in the GRS government has completely eroded,” he said, adding that GRS had failed to address key issues affecting Sabah’s economy and the livelihood of its people.

He also said that PH would most likely support BN in the election because BN supported it at the national level.

Bung Moktar disclosed that as BN Sabah wants to establish a Tabung Kemakmuran Sabah, which will prioritise the future of the people of Sabah.

“We also propose to provide free education to Sabahan students up to university level,” he said.

On the issue of Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, Bung Moktar said that under the Anti-Party Hopping Law, the seat will be vacated if Shahelmey decides to contest under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).