pic by BERNAMA

ALL parties aligned with Barisan Nasional (BN) will use the coalition logo to contest in the upcoming Sabah state elections, said BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said this when announcing BN Sabah chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin as the leader in charge of the coalition’s electoral machinery for the state polls.

However, when asked if the move would create friction with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, Bung Moktar said they would “negotiate” on the matter.

“That one (issue), we will negotiate with them,” Bung Moktar told reporters at the press conference yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid said currently BN is focused on negotiations on the distribution of seats with political parties in Sabah to ensure that a one-on-one clash could be realised.

“Apart from Umno and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), there are other political parties that intend to contest. I leave it to Bung Moktar’s wisdom to determine and include those from Star, PBRS and Parti Cinta Sabah led by Datuk Seri Anifah Aman. We will discuss ways to move together,” Ahmad Zahid said.

“We will allow Bung Moktar to hold preliminary talks with the party presidents. Secretary general Tan Sri Annuar Musa and myself will continue to monitor the situation and we will hold meetings with the party leaders in Sabah.”

Ahmad Zahid said the Sabah chief ministerial candidate will only be determined if BN succeeds in forming the state government next month.

The Election Commission has set the Sabah state elections on Sept 26 after the incumbent state government under Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal applied to dissolve the state assembly on July 30.

Bung Moktar said BN will require some time to finalise its candidates. He said the matter will be confirmed once candidates have been shortlisted.

The Kinabatangan MP also expressed his readiness to contest in the state election, but said he will leave the final decision to BN’s central leadership.

“If my friends allow me to contest [I am ready]. We will devise a good strategy. Timing is of the essence.”

Separately, former state BN party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will contest under its own banner as it rejected Umno.

News portal Malaysiakini reported LDP president Datuk Chin Su Pin as saying that the party will not work with Umno regardless of the election’s results.

“Even if we win seats, we will not cooperate with Umno,” he was quoted as saying.