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PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) is willing to consider working with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Sabah after the state elections, says BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“We are ready to collaborate with any party that is strong in order to form the Sabah government after the state elections.

“BN needs to strengthen its cooperation with PH, which has been crucial in forming the federal government. The same cooperation should be replicated in Sabah,” Zahid said.

Zahid’s statement comes in the wake of Sabah Umno hinting on Saturday that it was willing to form a coalition with other parties ahead of the next state elections.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin was reported to have said the state’s current political landscape meant only a coalition would be able to form a government.

The last Sabah elections were held in September 2020. The state assembly will be automatically dissolved by October next year, upon which the next polls need to be held within 60 days.

Last month, chief minister Hajiji Noor said no polls would be held until the legislature’s term expired, although he had previously hinted that elections could be called before this date.

It was also speculated that Sabah Umno and Warisan would work together in the state polls after Warisan president Shafie Apdal announced of such a possibility at his party’s general assembly last December.

This was played down by Sabah Umno leaders, while the national BN leadership said it would decide on the matter.

Currently, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-led Sabah government comprises representatives from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), PH and a handful of Umno assemblymen.

While Umno and GRS are part of the current administration at the national level, ties have been strained at state level following Sabah BN’s attempt to bring down the state government in January 2023.