Latest news with #Chinese-majority
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Zahid: Umno will not contest GE16 alone
MANJUNG: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today made it clear that the party will not contest the 16th General Election (GE16) on its own. The Barisan Nasional chairman said the party continues to value both its historical partners in BN, including MCA, MIC, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), as well as its newer allies in Pakatan Harapan. "Don't boast about wanting to contest solo. In the past, we have gone it alone. The result in Perak was just nine seats. At the national level, only 30 parliamentary seats. "So what's wrong if, in GE16, we unite our friends in Barisan Nasional with those in Pakatan Harapan? "In Lumut, if it is destined that the candidate chosen is based on a combination of votes from PH and BN, based on logic and political calculations, we could secure around 61,000 votes," he said. Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, said this during his opening speech at the Umno Lumut Division meeting at Dewan Merdeka here today. Also present were Perak Umno chief and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and Lumut Umno division chief Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. Zahid said the recent Ayer Kuning by-election demonstrated that the alliance between BN and PH must be maintained in the next general election. "We must also embrace and support the seats that belong to our partners. Take Ayer Kuning as an example. "In the previous election, we lost all the Chinese-majority polling districts. But in the recent by-election, we won all the Chinese-majority polling districts except one. "This is not just about sincerity or honesty; it's about a political strategy crafted by Umno and the BN leadership. God willing, if we remain sincere and honest with our allies, it will yield excellent results. "Did we not contest solo? Yes, we did but with the support of our friends from other parties. God willing, even as we contest under our own banner, we will continue to stand alongside our allies," he said. Zahid also said that Umno will retain the dacing (scales) symbol for the upcoming general election, but this does not mean the party is sidelining its allies. "What does this mean? Does it mean we want to sideline our friends from MCA, MIC, and PBRS? Does it mean we want to reject our friends in PH whether PKR, DAP, or Amanah? "Umno has never abandoned its friends. Even with new allies, we have never discarded our long-time partners," he said.
Daily Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah Umno eyes 32 seats
Published on: Friday, July 04, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 04, 2025 By: Malay Mail, Julia Chan Text Size: Sabah Umno is prepared to contest and win at least 32 seats in the upcoming state election, with the larger goal still at 40 seats, said chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Umno is prepared to contest and win at least 32 seats in the coming state election, with the larger goal still at 40 seats, said Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin. He declared that the party is ready to go up against former ally Gabungan Rakyat Sabah(GRS). Advertisement The Lamag assemblyman reiterated that there will be no negotiation with GRS, as they were prepared to contest head-to-head or in multiple-cornered fights in as many as 25 seats against the eight-party coalition led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 'We've been conducting dry runs in many of our constituencies. Our machinery is strong, and we're ready for straight or multi-cornered fights,' he said, adding that the seats are mainly in rural and semi-urban areas BN contested in 2020. 'I expect many six- or seven-way contests. It's okay — everyone believes they can win. I have confidence in our ground game. This is the best way to settle it.' BN's component party, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), is expected to contest in Keningau and other interior seats with large non-Muslim Bumiputera populations, while PH is seen as stronger in urban and Chinese-majority areas. 'Yes, we've had discussions with Pakatan Harapan (PH). They're going well. They're good partners and we don't see any major issues. They'll do well in the urban seats,' Bung said. This approach runs counter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's desire for a three-way cooperation between PH, BN, and GRS — an extension of the Federal unity government model to Sabah. At the Federal level, PH and BN govern together with GRS's support. But in Sabah, ties between Umno and GRS have collapsed following a power struggle in January 2023. Umno and GRS were allies during the 2020 state election and formed the government with a slim majority. But tensions simmered beneath the surface from day one. Bung, who was deputy chief minister, accused GRS of betraying agreed seat allocations, planting candidates in BN areas, and marginalising Umno within the state administration. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
DAP's Syahredzan, Young Syefura to sue PN rep
DAP MPs Syahredzan Johan and Young Syefura Othman said they did not expect defamatory behaviour from a leader such as Bersatu assemblyman Jasri Jamaludin. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : DAP MPs Syahredzan Johan and Young Syefura Othman will be taking legal action against Bersatu assemblyman Jasri Jamaludin for allegedly defaming them in a Facebook post. In a joint statement today, Syahredzan and Young Syefura, who are the Bangi and Bentong MPs respectively, said they were particularly disappointed with Jasri as the post had called them 'voluntary traitors to their race (sukarelawan untuk menjadi pembelot bangsa)'. 'We take this seriously, as we have been constantly defamed by Perikatan Nasional's followers online. We did not expect such behaviour from a leader like him. 'We are also disappointed because a Muslim representative such as this assemblyman in Pahang was willing to defame us as soon as the month of syawal ended,' they said. Jasri Jamaludin. The author of the Facebook post uploaded by Jasri yesterday accused DAP of dishonestly using Syahredzan and Young Syefura as the party's faces for the Malay community. 'They are portrayed as progressive leaders who represent the voices of all races, but in reality, they are only being used to blind the people's eyes,' read the post. The post also claimed that Young Syefura being an MP in Chinese-majority Bentong was a 'clear signal of how DAP only uses Malay faces to seem fair and open'. 'We are not angry with these two young ones, nor do we hold grudges. 'But we feel sorry for them, as they are willing to become voluntary traitors to their race in the name of freedom of speech and absolute rights,' read the post.
