GE14 | BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak simply could not help but point out how his number one rival, Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is missing in action in Sabah.

In a programme in Penampang tonight, the caretaker prime minister claimed that the "person who was prime minister for 22 years" does not like to meet Sabahans.

"In this campaign, he wants to become prime minister again but strangely, if he wants to become prime minister again, how come he did not spend even a day campaigning here in Sabah?" said Najib to loud boos from those present.

Najib further questioned Mahathir's absence in Sabah and this was met by a member of the audience who shouted that it was because Mahathir was afraid to come to Sabah.

"Would you like it if he comes to Sabah? Did you like it when he was prime minister for 22 years?"

Both questions posed by Najib received a resounding 'No!" from the audience.

"If you don't like it, reject him and support BN.

"How can he become prime minister if he abandons Sabah. What does this mean, it means he doesn't care about urang-urang Sabah (the people of Sabah)," said Najib, pronouncing the word "orang" with the Sabahan twang.

"In his heart, he doesn't love urang-urang Sabah, I love the people of Sabah, this is why I have brought many projects to develop Sabah."

The former prime minister, he added, had come out with the North-South Expressway and the people have been subjected to paying tolls.

"I came out with the Pan Borneo Highway for Sabah and Sarawak (and it's) without tolls.

"If he becomes prime minister again, he might impose tolls. We cannot let him become prime minister again," stressed Najib.

Both BN and local opposition coalition Gabungan Sabah had claimed that Parti Warisan Sabah and Pakatan Harapan have not brought Mahathir to the state as they were concerned about the local negative perception towards Mahathir (photo).

Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal, however, denied that he had prevented Mahathir from visiting Sabah due to the mostly negative sentiments of the people in the state towards the former premier.

Many Sabahans believe that Mahathir had neglected the state during his 22 years of premiership. Most of them also equate Mahathir with "Project IC", which saw thousands of foreigners in the state being given citizenship.

Najib, earlier in his speech, admitted that he was exhausted from his tight schedule.

Despite the short campaigning period, this is Najib's second time in Sabah after he visited Sandakan and Tawau on April 30.

"But once I arrived in Penampang, my tiredness went away because I saw how the hall is blue with BN, the spirit is exceptional, making me feel confident that we have a chance to win Penampang.

"We lost 3-0 (in the last general election), can we win this time?", he said, in reference to the Penampang parliamentary constituency and the Kepayan and Moyog state seats under it.

Promising that the BN will bring more development for Penampang, Najib pointed out how the flood mitigation project was approved even when BN lost 3-0.

"If we win 3-0, we will give more. What's the use of supporting the opposition?"

Najib in his speech also expressed confidence that BN will continue to administer the country.

"I have every confidence, what more with the support of Sabahans, the people of Sarawak and other states.

"If Allah permits it, we will win. If we win, do believe that we will be the loyal friends of the people of Sabah," he promised.

Both Sabah and Sarawak have traditionally been seen to be BN's "safe deposit". This time around, however, some pundits believe that change was possible in Sabah, citing the rising influence of Warisan.