State polls: BN-Harapan seek to lift Sabah out of underdevelopment

Umno’s decision to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election aims to establish a new government capable of lifting Sabah from its position as one of the most underdeveloped states in the country.

Sabah Umno Liaison Committee chairperson Bung Moktar Radin said the decision considered the need for mutual understanding between the federal and state levels in developing Sabah.

He noted that Sabah continues to be plagued by long-standing poverty, with eight of the poorest districts being Tongod, Beluran, Pitas, Kinabatangan, Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Ranau, and Lahad Datu.

“It is crucial, in my view, that Sabah undergoes a new transformation to lift itself from being one of the most underdeveloped states.

“Undoubtedly, the upcoming state election will be very interesting, and we may witness the formation of a new government focused on rescuing Sabah from the crisis of poverty,” he told reporters at the Parliament building.

Bung said discussions to form and strengthen the BN-Harapan alliance were ongoing among party leaders to ensure that preparations for the election could be jointly initiated.

“This step is to ensure that Sabah gets a strong government that can support the people’s aspirations for developing the state,” he said.

In September, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party had decided to work with Harapan for the Sabah state election and agreed that Sabah BN would follow the cooperation formula used at the federal level, extending it to the Land Below the Wind.

However, Bung said Sabah Umno and BN remained open to working with any local parties in the upcoming election.

- Bernama

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