Umno Sabah still studying winnable parliament seats

PUTATAN: Umno Sabah are still doing research on winnable parliamentary seats and top leadership level discussions of the party are underway, said Sabah Umno Election Research Committee (JUARA) Secretariat chairman Shahelmey Yahya.

Shahelmey said that according to a study on state seats contested by Barisan Nasional in the past election, the party's chances were good with 14 parliamentary seats.

"That (research) is based on the chairs contested by the Barisan Nasional in the last election. Research is still being made and negotiations regarding the division of seats at the top leadership level are still ongoing," he responded here yesterday to a media question regarding Umno Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar's recent announcement regarding the party's intention to take on at least 14 parliamentary seats in the 15th General Election.

"So, that was a statement based only on what was contested in the last election and based on subsequent research.

"In the spirit of camaraderie in GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah), the leadership will negotiate again," he concluded when pressed on whether Umno intended to encroach on the state's five Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) parliamentary seats.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah senior lecturer Lee Kuok Tiung recently said in a report that it would not be possible for one party within the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition to be given more than half of the 25 parliamentary seats in the state.

Lee said there were nine component parties in GRS and they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen the coalition and ensure political stability in the state.

He said further negotiations among the parties, and between Umno and PPBM, will see the number of seats allocated to each party scaled down.