Umno Sabah targets to contest 14 seats
KOTA KINABALU: Umno Sabah is targeting to contest 14 of the 25 parliamentary seats in the upcoming 15th General Election, the same numbers the party contested in the last polls.
This leaves only 11 parliamentary seats for Umno Sabah’s allies in GRS – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), STAR Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).
Its chairman, Dato Sri Bung Moktar Radin, said that during the 14th General Election, Umno contested in Kudat, Kota Belud, Sepanggar, Papar, Kimanis, Beaufort, Sipitang, Tenom, Beluran, Libaran, Kinabantangan, Silam, Semporna and Kalabakan.
He said that the target is based on studies made by the party via its Umno Sabah Election Management Department or Juara whereby its secretariat, chaired by Shahelmey Yahya and his committee, researched the strength of the people’s support for Umno at the respective seats demanded.
“The research will be carried out soon. The results from the study will determine the seats where Umno will be contesting,” he said at a meeting with Juara Umno at the Umno Sabah building yesterday.
Also present were Umno Sabah deputy chairman Datuk Yakub Khan, Juara Umno Sabah chairman cum Umno secretary Datuk Jafry Arifin and 15th General Election director Datuk Sri Salleh Tun Said.
On the distribution of candidates who would be contesting in the election, Bung who is also Umno Supreme Council member, said early consultation between Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) must be conducted with transparency based on each other’s strength and must be decided early instead of last minute to face the election.
“In the 15th General Election, we want to win to establish the government. Each seat, the geopolitic demands of voters and locality must be scrutinized,” he said.
Earlier, Bung who is also Sabah’s Deputy Chief Minister had a meeting with ministers and assistant ministers who represent Umno and also had the Umno Sabah liaison meeting.
During the meeting with the ministers and assistant ministers from Umno, Bung reminded them to be proactive and go to the ground to address the problems of the people, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) as many rural folks are affected and needed help.
“I hope all Umno’s people’s representatives maintained the momentum to continue working and be with the people since they were voted to become the people’s representatives not only to work when it is near the election period.
Bung who is Lamag state assemblyman, also said that the 30th anniversary of Umno entry into Sabah will be held on February 20.
He said that it will be done in moderation at the Umno Sabah building and abide by the standard operating procedure (SOP).
In the 14th general election, Sabah Umno won eight of the 25 parliamentary seats. Six of its MPs eventually joined PPBM. PBS, PBRS and Sabah STAR each won a seat.