Kota Kinabalu: Umno and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are advised to work together to face the 17th Sabah state elections expected to be held by next year.
Malaysian People’s Power Movement (G57) Chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar said both parties form the Unity Government at the Federal level and working together should not be an issue.
“Despite Sabah Umno assemblymen being in the opposition, it should be remembered that the Deputy Chief Minister is an Umno man.
“As a former Umno grassroots activist, the Sabah chapter’s leadership should prioritise the fate of Sabahans instead of dwelling on the past.
“I also understand that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given his view that Umno through Barisan Nasional together with GRS and PH should work together to face the elections and even discussions at the highest level are also said to have started,” he said, in a statement.
Zulkarnain emphasised it would be the best platform for Sabah to fix its perennial problems such as potholed roads, water and electricity, as well as Malaysian Agreement 1963 demands, to be fully resolved by the leaders of the three coalition parties.
Meanwhile, Sabah Umno Elections Department Director Jeffrey Nor Mohamed disagreed with Zulkarnain, saying he does not have authority to speak on the matter.
Jeffrey also asked who the top leaders Zulkarnain was referring to who allegedly discussed the cooperation.
“If it is true, is he more entitled than to know about this so-called pact before the Sabah Umno leadership?
“Besides, Parti Warisan is also now supporting the Unity Government at the Federal level but why are they not called to cooperate?
“He (Zulkarnain) is giving nonsense suggestions. Sabah Umno has own political strategy in facing the state elections,” he said in a statement.
The Umno Putatan Chief said GRS was already given the opportunity to become the State Government.
“But it turns out that many of the people’s problems cannot be solved by them. So my message to Zulkarnain is not to interfere in Sabah Umno affairs.
“Let GRS do their work while there is still time before the elections. What is certain is that the people are paying attention to what is being done to overcome infrastructure problems in Sabah,” he said.
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