SANDAKAN – Sabah BN aims to contest in over 23 out of 27 state seats on Sabah’s east coast in the coming state election, according to its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
Bung, who is also Sabah Umno chief, said this would include almost all state seats from Semporna to Kinabatangan.
As for the candidates, he said Sabah Umno is in the process of going through all possible choices but added the party is likely to choose those with “less controversy”.
“(While) it is impossible to find a candidate supported by all people, we would find those who are ‘less disastrous’, meaning they (are not involved in) too many conflicts,” he told reporters after a Sabah Umno Zone 5 Ramadan programme involving five constituencies, namely Kinabatangan, Libaran, Beluran, Sandakan and Batu Sapi.
Earlier in his speech, Bung said Sabah Umno must now present “new offers” to the people for the coming state polls because Sabah’s political landscape has changed.
Sabah Umno has drafted its election promises for the state election, due to be held in next year.
“We (Sabah Umno) have lost in the last general election, the party must now restructure its strategies and present new pledges to the people,” he said, adding that there will be offers on improving the state’s infrastructure and economy.
“These (pledges) are not lies. We will not be making impossible promises. If (a party does not fulfil its election promises) the party will be rejected by the people.
On water supply issues, Bung said he is going to ask the Sabah government if it has a short-term, medium-term, and long-term solution to solve persistent supply problems in the state.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government should see that water supply issues have become a “huge disaster”.
“The problem is too serious now affecting almost every inch in Sabah. Sabah has had water supply problems for years but it was never this bad.”
He said local leaders are finding the situation very difficult as they have to purchase water for residents, and state assemblymen have limited funds to assist in this area. – March 28, 2024