BN chairman Ahmad Zahid says collaboration with PH provides strategic advantages in Sabah state election, particularly with non-Muslim Bumiputera and Chinese voters
KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional has better election prospects in Sabah through its alliance with Pakatan Harapan, according to BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the BN-PH collaboration provides strategic advantages in constituencies with predominantly non-Muslim Bumiputera and Chinese voters.
“When we collaborate with PH in areas with non-Muslim Bumiputera and Chinese voters, we find that they are more receptive and there is harmony among this Sabah combination to parties that are components of BN and PH,” he told reporters here.
Ahmad Zahid acknowledged seat overlaps in several constituencies including Kemabong and Karamunting but said these were resolved through mutual understanding.
“The understanding we have is that in places where there is overlap in seats, the machinery will move separately, as long as it does not touch on matters involving the sensitivities of the parties,” he explained.
BN faces at least four-cornered contests in the 45 seats it is contesting out of 73 state legislative assembly seats.
The coalition includes UMNO, MCA and the Sabah United People’s Party.
Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that multiracial voter support and organised machinery would overcome the challenge of multiple opponents.
“We feel that this time, the opportunities for our candidates are greater and the BN machinery is more organised alongside cooperation from the state liaison bodies that are currently in all 45 constituencies,” he said.
He firmly denied allegations of secret collaboration with Parti Warisan Sabah.
“I have never had a single discussion with Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal…and we do not have an alliance,” he stated.
However, he did not rule out post-election negotiations with Warisan depending on the results.
According to him, Sabah voters prioritize state-level issues over national politics.
“Water problems, electricity problems, road problems are the talk of voters in urban and rural areas,” he noted.
On Sabah’s 40% revenue demand, Ahmad Zahid said the federal government has never rejected the claim but believes it won’t be decisive in this election. – Bernama
