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Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Be realistic, Sabah Umno not the force it once was, Bung told
Lee Kuok Tiung of U niversiti Malaysia Sabah said Warisan poses a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Bung Moktar Radin needs to accept the reality that Sabah Umno is no longer the force it used to be in the East Malaysian state, says a political analyst. Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Lee Kuok Tiung said while Umno used to dominate Sabah, the state's political landscape was vastly different then, with fewer local parties in contention. He pointed out that several parties have emerged in Sabah after multiple leaders broke away from Umno, namely Shafie Apdal's Warisan, Hajiji Noor's Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and even Bersatu's Sabah chapter, led by former Umno man Ronald Kiandee. 'There was no Warisan, GRS or even Sabah Bersatu in the past, and some of Sabah Umno's other past leaders are with different parties today. 'The political landscape and political set-up at that time was very different from the current scenario. So, wouldn't it be fair to say that Sabah Umno is not as it was before?' he told FMT. Lee also said Warisan, which intends to go solo in the upcoming state election, posed a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. 'Warisan still carries a strong local branding compared with Umno, which carries 'federal baggage'. Warisan also appeals across the races more effectively than Umno. 'Although GRS currently holds the administrative power, any erosion of support (by way of multi-cornered contests), especially in mixed or urban seats, could benefit Warisan,' he said. While Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan have agreed to an alliance for the state election, talks are ongoing to rope GRS into the pact. Nonetheless, Sabah BN and GRS leaders have continued to trade barbs. On Wednesday, Bung said leaders of Sabah-based parties have failed to unite Sabahans despite constantly pushing sentiments that they were local parties. The Sabah Umno chief said he appreciated the 'local struggle' spirit, but the narrative that only local parties could defend Sabah was a broken record, specifically training his guns on GRS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan. Bung said only national coalitions like BN could bring major change, ensure long-term stability and defending Sabah's right through federal channels. Lee warned Bung that undermining local party sentiments risked alienating voters, especially with more and more of them seeing local representation in the state assembly as crucial. 'Maybe he should slow down or lie low a little because what goes around comes around. Wouldn't it be a laughing stock if, in the 17th state election, Sabah Umno suddenly has to work with a local party? 'Some leaders need to move beyond the belief that they alone hold all the answers, and refrain from launching personal attacks against those with differing views. It's time they set aside their arrogance.' Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara agreed that it would be unwise to play down local party sentiments, which he noted was 'very, very high', though he believed Umno was still a force to be reckoned with in Sabah. Azmi said Umno's awareness of local party sentiments was evidenced by its federal leadership pushing the narrative that Sabah Umno had autonomy to make decisions, even on electoral pacts. However, he said, the federal BN leadership was making the final calls to unite the warring factions within Sabah Umno aligned with Bung, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak. Azmi also argued that BN and PH had the upper hand over local parties at the polls because of their access to federal power and resources.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Talks among GRS, PH, BN ongoing, says Anwar
Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim with other Sabah PH leaders after chairing a meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, tonight. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah are in the midst of negotiations on an electoral pact for the upcoming Sabah state election, says Anwar Ibrahim. The PH chairman said this in Kota Kinabalu tonight after chairing a Sabah PH meeting, Bernama reported. PH and BN have announced an alliance for the 17th Sabah state election, which must be held by the end of the year, while discussions are being held to rope GRS into the pact. GRS initially warned that it would go solo in the state election if PH and BN's alliance was final, insisting that a local party should be the backbone of the Sabah government. Despite ongoing talks, several Sabah BN and GRS leaders have been trading barbs over the past few weeks, including state Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffery Kitingan. Separately, Anwar, who is the prime minister, said ties between the federal and Sabah governments should be further strengthened. He said there needed to be mutual trust between the federal and state administrations for the sake of Sabah and Sabahans.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Bung as ‘poster boy' unwise with graft case proceeding, says analyst
BN's Bung Moktar Radin and GRS's Hajiji Noor are the two leading candidates for the post of chief minister if a BN-PH-GRS alliance materialises. PETALING JAYA : It would be unwise for the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Harapan alliance to name Bung Moktar Radin as their 'poster boy' for the coming state polls with a corruption case still hanging over the state BN chief's head, says an analyst. Universiti Sains Malaysia's Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said BN-PH cannot afford to put Bung forward as the candidate for chief minister as his court case makes him a 'liability'. Last week, Bung and his wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, failed in their application for a review of a Court of Appeal ruling ordering that they enter their defence on graft and abetment charges over a RM150 million Felcra investment. Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid. Fauzi said BN-PH needs to be led by a person whom the public perceives as free from corruption, and one whose reputation goes beyond ethnic and religious lines. He suggested that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Hajiji Noor is best suited for the role if BN-PH can seal an electoral pact with the state-based coalition. 'He's acceptable to PH and, while a compromise, is a figure who's able to soothe tensions between the two Umno camps led by Bung and (Sabah Umno deputy chief) Abdul Rahman Dahlan,' he told FMT. 'They need a figure whose reputation transcends Sabahans of all ethno-religious persuasions and can unite Muslim and indigenous non-Muslim communities, especially. ' Some within Sabah Umno are touting the name of Salleh Said Keruak, a former chief minister, again.' That said, Fauzi acknowledged the strength of Bung's relations with Sabahans on the ground, especially rural voters. He said this may outweigh the liability brought on by his corruption case. Bung and his wife were ordered to enter their defence last November in connection with the receipt of RM2.8 million in bribes to secure Felcra's approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts. Bung was non-executive chairman of Felcra at the time the alleged offences were committed. The couple is scheduled to begin their defence to the charges in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Aug 18. Earlier this month, Sabah Umno proposed that Bung be made BN's poster boy for the polls. BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, dismissed the proposal saying it was not the right time to determine the candidate. Awang Azman Pawi. Universiti Malaya's Awang Azman Pawi said BN-PH should put to rest all talk about whose image should adorn its campaign paraphernalia. 'It's pointless to endlessly debate about the chief ministerial candidate only to end up losing the polls. Their focus should be on winning as many seats as they can,' he said. Nonetheless, Awang Azman said it would be unfair to consider Bung as unsuitable for the honour since he has yet to be convicted by the court. 'Bung's strength lies in the grassroots. He is among the handful of Sabah Umno leaders who still command their own influence, especially in rural areas and among the party's machinery. 'Sabahans also largely aren't influenced by perceptions from mainstream media or social media. Sabah politics is very local in nature, heavily dependent on personal relations, field work and long-established grassroots support, which Bung has.'
The Star
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Jeffrey Kitingan says he is willing to debate Bung on any issue
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan says he is ready to accept Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's challenge for a debate on any issue, including the 'Sabah for Sabahans' issue. Bung Moktar, who is also Sabah Barisan chairman, issued the challenge when launching Sabah Umno's Gerak17 campaign for the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency. Kitingan, who is Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy chairman, also said the coalition is open to working with any party, but it will ultimately be the people who determine its political alliances. However, he said that the coalition of eight local parties has yet to decide on the matter. "We are willing to work with anyone for the sake of political stability but we have to listen to the people," he said when asked about the possibility of GRS teaming up with the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional alliance. "The elections are still some time away. For now, let's focus on what is currently on the table," he said. He added that GRS has begun preliminary meetings to discuss seat allocations.
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Bung Moktar calls for accountability over Sabah job woes
KOTA KINABALU: The lack of quality employment in Sabah has resulted in young Sabahans migrating to Peninsular Malaysia in search of better opportunities, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin. The Sabah Umno chief cited an article stating that around 200,000 Sabahans were working in the peninsula in 2022 due to the lack of adequate opportunities back home. 'The Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM) findings indicate that higher salaries, between RM2,000 and RM4,999, offered elsewhere are the main reason for this migration. 'The reality is that Sabah is losing its skilled and professional talent, people who should drive the state's development. This results from weak policies, poor economic planning, and the absence of high-impact large-scale investments,' Bung Moktar added. He wants the Sabah government to explain why the state has the highest unemployment rate in the country despite various claims of development. 'It is our responsibility to speak the truth, a truth that cannot be masked by optimistic figures alone. Unemployment and economic growth are clear indicators of a government's actual performance,' he said in a statement on Thursday (May 22). Citing figures from the DOSM, Bung Moktar said Sabah continues to record the highest unemployment rate in the country. 'In the fourth quarter of 2024, some 178,000 Sabahans, or 7.7% of the population, were unemployed. This is significantly higher than Sarawak (3.3%), Kedah (1.7%), and Kelantan (3.8%). Although there has been a slight drop from 9.1% in 2022, the figures remain alarming,' he said. For comparison, he added, Sabah's unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2017 stood at just 5.9% (111,000 people) when Barisan Nasional governed the state under the leadership of then chief minister Tun Musa Aman. 'This shows that the administration at the time successfully laid a strong economic foundation, attracted foreign direct investments, and created job opportunities across various sectors. 'I therefore urge the people of Sabah to open their eyes and assess the true performance of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's administration. 'I demand a sincere explanation, not just polished reports on paper. The people of Sabah deserve competent, transparent, and accountable leadership, not a government that continues to burden lives through administrative failure,' he said.
