No clash of seats between UMNO, Bersatu in GE15 - Bung Moktar

SEMPORNA: The political turmoil between UMNO and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) that took place in peninsular Malaysia did not affect the political situation in Sabah.

Sabah UMNO chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, said the decision he made had little implications for the central UMNO leadership but everything he did was for the people of Sabah.

“The impact is always there, only our stand is that Sabah has just held elections six months ago, of course, the people's expectations for the current government are so high.

"The first reason is that the people are already suffering due to the frequency of elections. Secondly, they are suffering because of poor economic conditions.

“Those who used to have businesses, now they are gone. Those who used to have jobs, now they don't, ” he said.

Bung Moktar said, the decision made for UMNO Sabah to continue to work with Bersatu Sabah is difficult but has been explained to the top leadership so that Sabah continues to move forward.

“As the Sabah UMNO Chief, I consider that during the election we give assurance to the people.

“When we are given the mandate, we will strengthen the current government to develop Sabah and protect the people's well-being.

"It is a difficult decision but it has been explained to UMNO leaders, including the UMNO president, that we need to defend the GRS government not only to respect the people but to ensure that Sabah will not be left behind from other states," he added.

He also gave an assurance that there would be no clash of seats between UMNO and Bersatu in the 15th General Election (GE15).

"We will discuss this, refine how the mechanism or approach that we will use to ensure that there will be no clash between us in the next GE.

"We pray that there will be none,” he said when met after officiating the Marina Sea Fest Hotel owned by Datuk Chua Ching Wah in Semporna, on Sunday.

Earlier, UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced in the UMNO General Assembly (PAU2020) on March 28 that UMNO would not cooperate with Bersatu in GE15.