No BN-Harapan seat clashes in Sabah polls, says Zahid

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said seat distribution between BN and Pakatan Harapan for the upcoming Sabah state election has been finalised, with no overlaps.

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, further informed that no negotiations have been held between BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) regarding seat distribution or cooperation for the state election, in order to respect Harapan.

However, Zahid anticipated that at least three-cornered contests would be unavoidable, following the likelihood of participation from other and new parties.

“What has been finalised is BN-Harapan, and we respect Harapan-GRS. There are no direct negotiations between BN and GRS. So far, any other discussions to avoid three-cornered contests or seat overlaps have been conducted behind the scenes.

“However, I feel that since there are too many new parties in Sabah wanting to contest this time, three-cornered fights will certainly be unavoidable, possibly up to eight-cornered. That is up to them, as that is the political landscape in Sabah. BN-Harapan has no overlapping seats,” he said.

He said this when met after attending the 16th National-Level Civil Defence Student Corps Training Completion Parade and Commissioning Ceremony in Shah Alam today.

Zahid was earlier reported as saying that negotiations on cooperation and seat distribution within the BN, Harapan, and GRS alliance for the state election were nearly completed.

BN to defend all seats

BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan said the coalition will defend all seats it won and contest all traditional seats that were previously given to Bersatu in the last state polls.

"We aim to contest the seats we won, and also traditional seats that we previously gave to Bersatu.

"In the previous Sabah election, many traditional BN seats were given to Bersatu in the spirit of cooperation. But we were backstabbed.

“We don’t want this to happen again," he told reporters after officiating the Rembau Umno Division Women’s, Youth and Puteri Wings meetings today.

- Bernama

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