BN will win if seats issue not resolved — Muhyiddin

KOTA KINABALU: Failure to resolve the arrangement of seats to be contested among the opposition parties in Sabah will pave the way for Barisan Nasional (BN) to continue to rule in Putrajaya, warned Pakatan Harapan deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday.

Muhyiddin said he was positive some form of understanding or arrangement between the opposition parties in Sabah would transpire. He expressed hope that they will arrive at a reasonable and fair arrangement because at the end of the day, if they disagreed, they will be contestants from all parties in a single constituency.

“It is important to provide the change that people want so you have to agree to work together or avoid conflict that might make things difficult for you. What I hope is that an understanding of that sort can be arrived at,” he said at a press conference here yesterday,

He also said all Pakatan Harapan parties had been asked to provide the list of their candidates according to the seats they would be contesting in the election.

“I believe all parties have identified suitable candidates. The seats allocation must be finalised prior to the end of this month. We are requesting all state party leaders to resolve outstanding matters as regards to the allocation of seats either state or parliamentary seats,” he said.

Muhyiddin was also asked if there were any arrangement between Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan Sabah helmed by Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal.

“We have no official arrangement with Warisan. As far as we are concerned, we are willing to cooperate with any party with the common objective of toppling Barisan,” he said.

He also said it was up to Shafie to do whatever he felt necessary.

“Most important is get our backs together.”

He reminded that changing the national government was not going to be an easy feat.

Sabah has the experience of changing governments but changing the national government is not an easy task, he said.

He added that a coordinated and cohesive approach of working together well will ensure they can give a good fight.

“We know what the BN national government is all about. I was there for many years. I know how BN works. Of course now I am at this side. I am told the strategy with broad understanding of the objective should be the overarching principle so that you can win. The Sabah leaders here are very much involved in that, they understand this whole principle, gives us a better chance,” he said and urged the people to vote for Pakatan Harapan for change.

“We are here to serve the people. We are telling that if you want change, vote us in because we provide the better alternative to Barisan Nasional,” he said.

Muhyiddin also said opposition parties in Sabah must consider the interest of the people at large and this should surpass personal or party interest.

He felt the opposition could achieve more success in developing a more cohesive opposition front to fight against BN if they were able to do so.

“If they think along party lines only and they think they can win on their own... even BN (Barisan Nasional), on their own by Umno cannot win. They have to work with other parties within BN. I have learnt that a long time now,” he said.

He added that now was the time for a coalition, which was why Pakatan Harapan was formed.

He also said they wanted to register Pakatan, but whether or not this was approved or not, the parties within Pakatan would work on the basis that they are a Pakatan Harapan team.

Muhyiddin also shared the purpose of his visit to Sabah, citing that he has met all Sabah Pakatan Harapan leaders and there was a meeting and discussion as well as briefing on Sabah Pakatan Harapan’s preparation to face the upcoming 14th general election.

“I am satisfied with the meeting. We had a long discussion on the preparation in Sabah for the state and parliament levels,” he said.

He added that he was also informed of the good cooperation that had been forged between parties within the coalition comprising DAP, PKR and Amanah.

“We can create a line of Pakatan Harapan opposition that is strong to help us attain victory in the upcoming election and create a new government in Putrajaya and in Sabah,” he said.

He also said he had discussed strategies on how Pakatan Harapan in Sabah could attain victory in the upcoming election.

“Cooperation with Pakatan is very important and so is cooperation with anyone that aims to see the fall of the Barisan Nasional government. We are ready to form a suitable cooperation with anyone with a similar objective. This is what we aspire in the upcoming general election,” he said.

He added that he had also asked them to prepare their election machineries and to form networks with the people of Sabah and to listen to their problems and to tell them of the new offer which would be tabled in the Pakatan Harapan Sabah convention scheduled to take place in the near future.

“There will be a new deal for Sabah (but) I will not reveal it here,” he said.

Also present at the press conference were leaders from PKR Sabah, DAP Sabah and Amanah.