Sabah State Election seen as Umno's battle for survival

Sinar Daily

3 days ago

The election results will serve as a clear indicator of the party's prospects in the 16th General Election (GE16).
Sabah Umno Information Chief Suhaimi Nasir called the upcoming Sabah State Election a do-or-die battle for the party's survival.
SHAH ALAM – Sabah Umno Information Chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir has described the upcoming Sabah state election as a do-or-die fight for the party's political survival.
Speaking to Free Malaysia Today at Parliament earlier today, the Libaran Member of Parliament (MP) admitted a major challenge lies ahead as the party strives to reclaim its pre-14th General Election (GE14) dominance. Suhaimi Nasir. Photo SINAR HARIAN/MOHD HALIM ABDUL WAHID
He believes the election results will serve as a clear indicator of the party's prospects in the 16th General Election (GE16).
'I see that is what will happen (Umno's survival for GE16), but if we win this state election and form the government, we are confident of securing at least 12 parliamentary seats,' Suhaimi said.
Sabah currently accounts for seven of the 30 parliamentary seats Barisan Nasional (BN) won in the 2022 GE.
Suhaimi pointed to Beluran, Batu Sapi and Kota Belud as constituencies BN could recapture with a decisive victory.
'In Kota Belud, for example, the people see the incumbent (Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis from Warisan) has served two terms and the people do not want to remain in the opposition,' he said.
BN is expected to contest 38 state seats, with 90 per cent of its candidates already confirmed.
Last month, political analyst Bilcher Bala suggested that Sabah Umno is in its weakest position ahead of the election due to internal disagreements between state party chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his deputy Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Abdul Rahman has previously said the party's decision to leave the state government in January 2023 was a major error.
He said the move weakened its influence and made it harder to protect the people's interests, leading to the loss of four ministerial posts, six assistant minister positions and over 2,000 grassroots roles formerly held by Umno leaders.
Bung has since urged his deputy to stop revisiting past issues, stating that the withdrawal of support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was a collective decision by the state Umno leadership, not his alone.