BN P'pang should discuss
PENAMPANG: Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties with sentiments on the quota system for state seats should talk it out in a meeting to avoid misunderstanding, said BN Penampang chairman Datuk Donald Mojuntin.
"This type of thing is sometimes said because of supporters, but what we need to think about is, we in Penampang do not decide the quota," he said.
"The quota system is decided by the BN supreme council and that's up to the prime minister and the respective presidents of the BN component party.
"I would like to implore all component parties with similar sentiments to simply talk it out in a BN Penampang meeting.
"I do not want, especially at this juncture where the election is so close, for there to be any misunderstanding or misperception.
"As far as I'm concerned, we are quite united among the BN component parties here in Penampang. We hold regular meetings and we thrash out any problem," he said.
Donald was commenting on a statement by Moyog division chief and supreme council member John Chryso Masabal, who said seats should be shared equally among component BN parties in the 14th general election, and that Parti Besatu Sabah (PBS) should be part of BN's initiative to regain Penampang.
Donald clarified that he did not take John's statement negatively, saying each party has the right to ask for quota in their respective areas.
"What I'm hoping is that what he said will not create misunderstanding. I just think PBS, in Moyog especially, would like to be given opportunity.
"Suffice it to say that in each area, we face the same thing because there are a few component parties and each component party would like to have the opportunity to represent that area.
"I don't regard what John said as negative, but others might. Therefore, I implore for us to talk it out in a meeting," he said.
Donald, who is also United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) secretary general, said the quota for UPKO remains the same for MP Penampang and ADUN Moyog, and anything different will be decided by the top leadership of BN.
Meanwhile, UPKO has set up all its machinery in every polling district in each of its branches, he added.
"As far as I'm concerned, UPKO is well ready for the election. We have over 100 branches with more cropping up and they are all activated already. Each branch will have a team for the polling district itself so we are ready.
"BN Penampang is also ready, it's just a matter of how we coordinate our efforts. How we cooperate even better between component parties.
"We are also ready in terms of multimedia - we have teams promoting the party and that's been going on for the last two to three years," he said.