'PN's Sabah polls lineup based on data, not rivalries or personalities'

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin today said the coalition's list of 41 candidates for the Sabah polls was finalised based on ground assessments and data, not on personalities or rivalries.

Speaking to reporters after the announcement of PN's candidates in Penampang, Muhyiddin expressed confidence that contesting in 41 seats "will be more than enough to form the next state government."

"The decision came after studying every constituency closely.

"Based on our data and assessments, these are the best areas for PN to contest," said the Bersatu president, adding that the federal opposition is also open to post-election cooperation with other parties sharing similar goals.

“No single party can govern Sabah alone. Coalitions are part of Sabah’s political reality,” he noted.

The candidates lineup will see Bersatu contesting in 33 seats, five under PAS and three under Gerakan.

Among notable contests are PN candidates fielded against caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor, Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam.

At the same time, PN is also avoiding contests against other key state politicians, notably Warisan president Shafie Apdal in Senallang and Star president Jeffrey Kitingan in Tambunan.

‘Based on own evaluation’

Quizzed on the matter, Muhyiddin, however, said, “When we finalised the list, I didn’t look at who’s on the other side.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re big names or small names. We made our decisions based on our own evaluation,” he said.

PN has fielded Tuaran Bersatu Women chief Tiaminah Siti Aminah Ele against Hajiji in Sulaman, and Ranau Bersatu chief Atong Antong against Gunsalam in Kundasang.

The former prime minister further said PN’s candidates were screened for professionalism and integrity, calling them “new faces with clean hands.”

Asked about potential voters' concerns against PAS' candidates, Muhyiddin said, "PAS is part of PN, and it’s fair they contest a few seats.

"They’re only contesting five. Sabahans shouldn’t worry about that because we operate as one team under PN. We’ve agreed on this arrangement," he said.

First full campaign

Muhyiddin's announcement also marks PN’s first full campaign in Sabah since the coalition lost its base in 2022, when Hajiji and Masidi Manjun, who were part of 17 Bersatu assemblypersons, quit the party to form Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and later took over Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan) in 2023.

Now rebuilt under Ronald Kiandee, the PN state leadership will attempt again to position itself as a disciplined alternative in the Sabah election.

Muhyiddin today also reiterated PN’s support for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the state’s 40 percent revenue entitlement.

“It’s in the Federal Constitution, it belongs to Sabah and Sarawak, and we fully support its return,” he said.

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