KOTA KINABALU: UMNO has in principle agreed to work together with Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah to form a coalition for the upcoming state election.
The BN chairman and UMNO president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that UMNO and BN welcome any other parties interested in joining this collaboration.
“The decision to collaborate between BN Sabah and PH is a joint decision made by UMNO Sabah and the central UMNO as the best way to maintain the Unity Government in Putrajaya while also extending it to Sabah.
“Other parties are still welcome to join us. We hope no party in Sabah will claim to be a Malaya party or a national party that should not enter Sabah.
“We are a democratic country, so there are no local or Peninsular parties. Therefore, no statements should be made that offend anyone, even if a party wishes to become the Chief Minister of Sabah,” he said at a press conference with Malaysian journalists at the end of his visit to China today.
When asked if the approach in the Sabah state election would serve as a model for BN in the 16th General Election (GE), Ahmad Zahid replied that, for now, the collaboration is focused solely on the Sabah state election.
“We are taking steps to address the issues in the Sabah state election first, and if this template works well, we will consider its implementation for GE16.
“However, the compatibility between BN and PH 2.0 has already shown positive results, including support from GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah), and other parties, including independent MPs,” he said.
Source: Berita Harian
