Just remain as opposition in Sabah, Akmal tells BN

Umno and BN Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh today advised Sabah BN to remain as an opposition front in the state and to play its check-and-balance role well.

His statement on Facebook comes after BN formally endorsed Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor's leadership and offered to support the new state government, despite past enmity.

However, the offer was met with outright rejection after both the women's and youth wings of Hajiji's party, Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan), rejected BN's inclusion in the GRS Plus government, saying that voters had rejected BN and that the coalition already holds a comfortable majority.

Both the wings had, in a similar statement, pointed out that GRS Plus has already secured a comfortable majority to form the state administration, with a composition involving GRS (29 seats), independents (five), Upko (three), Harapan (one), and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (one), in addition to receiving support from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) with two seats.

“BN should just remain in the opposition benches in Sabah alongside Warisan and Perikatan Nasional. Be a strong opposition, champion the people's issues, and always keep the state government in check on what they're doing.

“The people want us in opposition because they want to see us change for the better. We accept defeat with dignity, and we fix our weaknesses.

“Only then will the people trust us again, and we'll win back their hearts, and if that can happen in Sabah, it can happen at the federal level too. Listen to the voice of the people. God willing, the people will believe in us again,” Akmal said.

Ties between BN and GRS soured after Sabah BN withdrew its support for Hajiji’s government in 2023.

At the time, Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin accused Hajiji of breaching an understanding under which the coalition would back his leadership in exchange for positions in the state cabinet and government-linked companies.

‘Let past experiences serve as lessons’

In its statement, Gagasan’s youth wing added that past experiences must serve as lessons, recalling the political disruptions of 2023 in which BN played a role.

It cautioned that such events should not be repeated, as BN had at that time undermined political stability and public confidence.

It also accused BN of having “launched extraordinary political attacks against GRS” and the leadership of Hajjii, who was also the chief minister then.

“Therefore, it is inappropriate for them to now seek inclusion in the government despite their earlier stance,” it added.

Sabah Umno had previously been accorded autonomy on candidate selection and election strategy.

So far, Bung has remained silent after the conclusion of Saturday’s polls, including on any decision to endorse Hajiji’s administration.

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Official: GRS 29, Warisan 25, PKR 1