Latest news with #PHBN
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-Sabah CM ‘disgusted' with parties' fixation on seats instead of issues
Former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee said many Sabahans had no idea about the issues that political parties would champion and fight for if elected. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee has urged political parties to talk about the issues they want to champion instead of the number of seats they want to contest in the upcoming state election. The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president said he was disgusted with reports of parties scrambling for seats, including entities from Peninsular Malaysia, The Borneo Post reported. Yong said Sabahans want to know what the political parties were championing and would fight for if elected to form the next Sabah government. 'So far, Sabahans like myself have no idea what some political parties and leaders are fighting for. They only talk about seats, seats and more seats. 'How about talking about the issues for this coming Sabah election?' he was quoted as saying. Yong took aim at Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in particular, questioning whether the two coalitions would push for Sabah and Sarawak to be allocated 35% of parliamentary seats in the country and other issues as stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 'Everyone, including Malayan parties, have joined the bandwagon of championing MA63 after the 2008 general election when BN for the first time lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority,' he added. SAPP is a component of ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), led by Hajiji Noor. GRS and PH are currently allies in Hajiji's state administration while BN sits in the opposition. However, PH and BN have announced an alliance for the state polls, while talks are ongoing to include GRS in the pact. On Sunday, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar expressed hope that her party would be able to contest a minimum of 13 seats in the upcoming Sabah election. The following day, Sabah DAP deputy chief Chan Foong Hin said the state chapter was eyeing at least 10 seats in the state polls. Sabah Umno had said it hoped to contest 40 seats in the 17th state election. SAPP's fellow GRS component Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku said today that the party was looking to contest 15 seats, while Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah vice-president Masiung Banah said GRS was eyeing 52 seats at least.
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Be magnanimous in Melaka seat talks, Amanah urges BN
Melaka Amanah chief Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat called for open minds during seat talks for the state polls, after Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh rejected an even division of the 28 seats between PH and BN. PETALING JAYA : Melaka Amanah chief Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat has urged Barisan Nasional (BN) to keep an open heart and mind when holding seat negotiations with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the next state election. Ashraf said certain allies in BN had responded arrogantly to proposals for the 28 seats to be split evenly between PH and BN, in a swipe at Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh. He argued that PH deserved a greater share of seats to contest despite currently holding just five compared with BN's 20, as the results of the 2022 general election showed that PH had performed better. 'The distinct difference between the outcomes of the state and general elections should motivate Melaka PH and Melaka BN to leverage each other's strengths instead of being proud about the current situation. 'In my view, discussions on seat distribution for the state election should be received with open minds and discussed carefully. Everyone should be free to make proposals. 'The main Melaka BN leaders should be more magnanimous and should not reject proposals from the outset without allowing room for discussions,' he said in a statement. Ashraf said the unity government was built on concessions, noting that Amanah had made way for BN to contest the Lenggeng seat in Negeri Sembilan during the 2023 state election, even though the seat was previously won by Amanah. Yesterday, Akmal rejected a grassroots proposal from nine Melaka DAP branches for PH and BN to contest 14 seats each in the upcoming state election, telling DAP to 'dream on'. However, he misinterpreted a China Press report as saying that the proposal was made by nine DAP divisions rather than branches. Melaka DAP publicity secretary Kerk Chee Yee clarified that this was merely a grassroots proposal by branches, and that the state chapter had yet to discuss the matter.
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
GRS ready to go solo in state polls, says Hajiji
Hajiji Noor said Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government. PETALING JAYA : Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is ready to contest in the upcoming Sabah election on its own if Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional's decision to cooperate for the state polls is final, says GRS chairman Hajiji Noor. Hajiji said GRS has consistently held that local Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government, without sidelining the important role national parties play in the larger political framework. The Sabah chief minister said this was because local parties had a better understanding of the realities, cultures and needs of Sabahans. 'If PH and BN's decision to cooperate for the state election is final, then GRS is ready to go solo and focus on working with other local parties. 'To stray from this principle would mean neglecting the aspirations of the majority of Sabahans,' he said in a statement. Hajiji said GRS's struggle was for political stability and the people's welfare, and that he had consistently repeated that the current GRS-PH state government needed to be strengthened. He said this was because his state government represented a form of cooperation that has contributed to the overall strength of the federal unity government. 'To sideline local aspirations in the context of Sabah's political landscape would not be in line with the people's sentiments at the grassroots level.' Hajiji said GRS's top leadership will meet soon to set its direction for the state polls. He will also hold formal discussions with parties in the state administration to get their views on the issue. GRS and PH are currently allies in Hajiji's government, while BN sits in the opposition in the state assembly with Warisan. All four parties are allies in the federal government. Earlier, the unity government secretariat announced that BN and PH have agreed to work together for the Sabah state election, which must be held before the year ends. This followed a meeting between PH and BN chairmen, Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Malay Mail
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Pakatan, BN to team up for Sabah polls; seat talks to be jointly decided
KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) have agreed to cooperate for the Sabah state election. This was stated in a joint statement by PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Unity Government Secretariat chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. According to them, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reached the agreement during a top leadership meeting yesterday. 'The form of cooperation, including seat distribution and negotiations with any other parties, will be jointly scrutinised by the PH and BN leadership in Sabah. 'All decisions will be finalised by the top leadership of PH and BN at the national level,' the statement added. — Bernama
