Latest news with #Sabah
Free Malaysia Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
When did we offer to team up with you, Bung asks ‘deluded' PBS
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin accused PBS acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam of 'political self-delusion'. PETALING JAYA : Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin has denied any offer to work with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in the upcoming state election. In a statement, Bung took aim at PBS acting president Dr Joachim Gunsalam, accusing him of 'political self-delusion' for suggesting that his party had turned down Barisan Nasional's (BN) offer to team up for the state polls. 'Sabah BN never at any point extended an invitation to PBS to collaborate. This appears to be yet another case of political self-delusion, where one imagines conversations and negotiations that simply never took place. 'You cannot reject a proposal that was never made. Please, don't flatter yourself,' Bung said. Yesterday, Joachim said the PBS Supreme Council had voted against working with BN in the state polls, adding that the party remained committed to GRS. PBS was formerly a BN component but left the coalition twice, most recently after the 2018 general election when BN fell from federal power. Bung, the Kinabatangan MP, said BN had moved on from former allies that had once abandoned the coalition. 'Sabah BN does not pursue alliances with parties that lack a clear political compass or credibility. PBS chose to abandon BN in the past for its own expedient interests. That chapter is closed,' he said. GRS and PH are currently allies in the Hajiji Noor state government, while BN sits in the opposition in the Sabah legislative assembly. GRS threatened to go solo in the state polls after the unity government secretariat announced that PH and BN had agreed to an election pact. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as PH chairman, later called for PH-BN to work with the ruling state coalition. Bung, who previously rejected working with GRS for the polls, recently said Sabah Umno was open to collaborating with the ruling coalition if it approached seat negotiations with sincerity.
Free Malaysia Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Umno refining SD for Sabah state election candidates
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the enhancements are being carried out by the party's legal team, which includes Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said. MACHANG : Umno is refining its statutory declaration (SD) document for candidates who will be fielded in the Sabah state election, taking into account the current political landscape. Its secretary-general, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said this is being done by the party's legal team, which includes Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said. 'For the Sabah state election, we will use the same template, but with enhancements based on the present situation. For now, we believe the SD signed during the last general election (GE15) is still sufficient,' he said. He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Machang Umno division meeting in Kelantan last night. The current five-year term of the 16th Sabah state assembly will expire automatically on Nov 11.
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
No guarantees for runners-up, says Saifuddin Nasution as PKR rethinks Sabah seat strategy
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Just one week into his new role as co-director of elections for PKR, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has wasted no time preparing for a potentially pivotal state poll in Sabah. Speaking to Berita Harian, Saifuddin, who shares the post with PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, said coalition parties held talks three days ago in anticipation of Sabah's 17th state election. He also reportedly said the discussions — involving allies Barisan Nasional (BN), DAP, Amanah and the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) — focused on electoral data and the division of seats. 'Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional have agreed to work together in facing the Sabah polls,' Saifuddin said in the interview published today. 'We're also open to collaborating with other coalitions in the state, including Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).' Saifuddin, who also serves as the home minister and PH secretary-general, signalled a departure from past electoral strategies. In a notable shift, he said the coalition may no longer automatically allocate seats to parties that placed second in the previous state election. 'The rankings of first and second place are dynamic,' he reportedly said to the national daily. 'Some constituencies we lost in the 2020 state election later showed majority support for us in the 2022 general election. 'We're looking at current data — it's not a rule that a second-place showing guarantees a seat.' The remarks come amid growing speculation that Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor could dissolve the state assembly in late July or early August. Previously, Hajiji, who chairs GRS and leads the Gagasan Rakyat party, said the timing would be announced after GRS's annual assembly next month. Saifuddin described recent the government's meetings on Sabah as 'highly productive,' adding that the coalition was already evaluating seat demographics, candidate suitability and ethnic composition in key constituencies. The latest coordination effort comes as PH seeks to expand its influence in Sabah, where it currently holds nine state assembly seats, including two under PKR. BN, which won 14 seats in the last state election in 2020, left the ruling coalition in early 2023 following a political rift.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘If you remove me, Sabah Umno will shut down': Bung Moktar denies exit rumours, wants to be CM
KOTA KINABALU, June 27 — Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has dismissed rumours of stepping aside in the coming state election. Speaking to Malay Mail recently, Bung said that not only would he defend his Lamag state assembly seat, he also had his eyes firmly set on becoming chief minister. 'How to be chief minister if I don't contest?' he said with a laugh, brushing off speculation that he was making way for his son to run in Lamag. Bung warned that any attempt to sideline him would jeopardise the party's revival in Sabah. 'If you remove me, Umno Sabah will shut down,' said the six-term Kinabatangan MP. 'I rebuilt Sabah Umno' Often characterised in national politics by his brash style, Bung insisted he had done the heavy lifting to restore Umno's footing in Sabah after the party's collapse in 2018, when many of its elected representatives and leaders left to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. 'Before the exodus, we had around 530,000 members. It dropped to 400,000 after the 2018 crisis. Today, it's 615,000. That's what I've rebuilt in seven years,' he said when speaking to Malay Mail recently. He said he had initially been reluctant to take the helm, but agreed on the condition that he would be allowed to lead without interference. 'I told the president — if I do this, you have to trust me,' he said, referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Internal tensions and party unity Bung said he has faced stiff resistance within the party, including from former Sabah Umno chief Tun Musa Aman, now the state governor, and other factions uneasy with his ties to opposition leader Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal. Both were alleged to be involved in the failed 'Kinabalu Move' in 2023 — an attempt to unseat Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Bung also addressed his strained relationship with his deputy, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who is seen as more aligned with the GRS-led government having been appointed to the board of University Malaysia Sabah and chairman of the Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation. 'We've spoken. I think it's settled for now. I trust he will act in the party's interest.' Abdul Rahman has publicly criticised Bung's decisions and even invited Hajiji to a divisional event attended by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi — reportedly against Bung's wishes. Bung said Abdul Rahman is unlikely to be fielded as a candidate in the next state polls, noting the only possible seat for him would be Sulaman — Hajiji's stronghold since 1990. 'If he wants to contest, he can contest in Sulaman,' Bung quipped. Still, Bung acknowledged the challenge of managing internal candidate jostling. 'Everyone wants to be a candidate — especially division chiefs. But we must choose those most likely to win. Of course, not everyone will be happy,' he said when asked about his concern heading into the election. 'BN still right for Sabah' Bung remained a staunch critic of the GRS administration, accusing it of failing to deliver on basic infrastructure despite boasting record reserves. 'BN is a good party. But maybe we didn't have a leader who really understood the rakyat. I'm from the kampung. I know what the people need and I can deliver,' he said. He said rhetoric from local-based parties was limited to certain areas and did not resonate in rural constituencies, where basic needs remain unmet. 'They don't care about sentiments like local versus national politics or mining scandals,' he said. 'What they want is water supply during Raya, roads to their kebun, electricity to cook with, the internet... I know how to deliver that.' He said that during his two-year stint as works minister he had tried to solve the water supply issue by privatising water supply — a controversial idea in the state, where public utilities remain under government control. 'Sabah is one of the only states where water hasn't been privatised. I know it's not popular, but it can work,' he said. 'Yes, some will have to pay more — but we can have a tiered tariff system to be fair. 'For households using under RM30 per month – no need to pay at all. Those who use more, will pay more,' he added. No going back to GRS After what he described as betrayal and sabotage by former allies in GRS, Bung has ruled out any pre-election cooperation with the coalition — despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's vision of a three-way alliance between PH, BN, and GRS. PH would be a viable partner given its urban base and its popularity in Chinese-majority areas. 'PH is a good partner. But GRS? No. There's just too much bad history,' he said. He said he is aware that BN's ability to lead in the state again depends on how many seats it can win — ideally 30 to 40 — to avoid needing GRS's support to form government and be chief minister. 'That's why we have to win big. Everyone says they have the best chance. So let's see. 'We'll cross that bridge when we get there,' he said.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Ex-Sabah water director tells court only RM3m in office pantry cash was his, claims bulk of RM20m belonged to ‘someone else'
KOTA KINABALU, June 26 — A Sessions Court here today heard that large amount of cash allegedly found by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a former Sabah Water Department director's office pantry belonged to someone else. The first defence witness, Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib, 63, told judge Abu Bakar Manat that most of the cash found in the pantry did not belong to him — only the amount inside a knapsack was his. Under cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Ag Mohd Tahir disagreed with the suggestion that he was the only person who had a key to the pantry. Mahadi: At the pantry and inside the knapsack, there was nothing belonging to anyone else. Agree?Ag Mohd Tahir: Only inside the knapsack was mine. Mahadi: In the pantry, there were items belonging to someone else?Ag Mohd Tahir: Yes. Mahadi: Can you tell the court what items belonged to someone else?Ag Mohd Tahir: A large amount of cash. He also agreed that no items in the knapsack belonged to someone else. Earlier, under examination-in-chief, Ag Mohd Tahir testified that the bulk of the RM20 million allegedly found in the pantry was already there when he entered the office. He claimed that from time to time he would keep his money there, especially when his brother came to request political donations. He maintained that only RM3 million of the RM20 million belonged to him. Ag Mohd Tahir is on trial alongside his wife Fauziah Hj Piut, 58, and former department deputy director Lim Lam Beng @ Lim Chee Hong, 69. He faces 11 charges, while Fauziah faces 19 charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUA). The couple also faces two joint charges under the same section, while Ag Mohd Tahir has an additional charge under Section 4(1)(a). The alleged offences were committed between October 4 and November 4, 2016, at various locations including Ag Mohd Tahir's office, a house in Sembulan, bank branches, a condominium in Sulaman, and a tower in Kuala Lumpur. Lim is alleged to have committed related offences between October 13 and November 8, 2016, at the MACC office in Jalan UMS and at a residence in Kota Kinabalu. Ag Mohd Tahir also testified that he was unaware his wife had 19 bank accounts totalling RM2.2 million. He disagreed with claims that MACC had seized 900 pieces of jewellery, initially valued at RM1.7 million in 2016, and later appraised at RM4.1 million in 2023. The prosecution is led by deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Haresh Prakash Somiah and Zander Lim. Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah are represented by Datuk Hj Ansari Abdullah and Erveana Ansari. Lim is defended by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh and Kelvin Wong. The trial resumes on July 23. — The Borneo Post
