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Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘If you remove me, Sabah Umno will shut down': Bung Moktar denies exit rumours, wants to be CM
KOTA KINABALU, June 27 — Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has dismissed rumours of stepping aside in the coming state election. Speaking to Malay Mail recently, Bung said that not only would he defend his Lamag state assembly seat, he also had his eyes firmly set on becoming chief minister. 'How to be chief minister if I don't contest?' he said with a laugh, brushing off speculation that he was making way for his son to run in Lamag. Bung warned that any attempt to sideline him would jeopardise the party's revival in Sabah. 'If you remove me, Umno Sabah will shut down,' said the six-term Kinabatangan MP. 'I rebuilt Sabah Umno' Often characterised in national politics by his brash style, Bung insisted he had done the heavy lifting to restore Umno's footing in Sabah after the party's collapse in 2018, when many of its elected representatives and leaders left to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. 'Before the exodus, we had around 530,000 members. It dropped to 400,000 after the 2018 crisis. Today, it's 615,000. That's what I've rebuilt in seven years,' he said when speaking to Malay Mail recently. He said he had initially been reluctant to take the helm, but agreed on the condition that he would be allowed to lead without interference. 'I told the president — if I do this, you have to trust me,' he said, referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Internal tensions and party unity Bung said he has faced stiff resistance within the party, including from former Sabah Umno chief Tun Musa Aman, now the state governor, and other factions uneasy with his ties to opposition leader Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal. Both were alleged to be involved in the failed 'Kinabalu Move' in 2023 — an attempt to unseat Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Bung also addressed his strained relationship with his deputy, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who is seen as more aligned with the GRS-led government having been appointed to the board of University Malaysia Sabah and chairman of the Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation. 'We've spoken. I think it's settled for now. I trust he will act in the party's interest.' Abdul Rahman has publicly criticised Bung's decisions and even invited Hajiji to a divisional event attended by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi — reportedly against Bung's wishes. Bung said Abdul Rahman is unlikely to be fielded as a candidate in the next state polls, noting the only possible seat for him would be Sulaman — Hajiji's stronghold since 1990. 'If he wants to contest, he can contest in Sulaman,' Bung quipped. Still, Bung acknowledged the challenge of managing internal candidate jostling. 'Everyone wants to be a candidate — especially division chiefs. But we must choose those most likely to win. Of course, not everyone will be happy,' he said when asked about his concern heading into the election. 'BN still right for Sabah' Bung remained a staunch critic of the GRS administration, accusing it of failing to deliver on basic infrastructure despite boasting record reserves. 'BN is a good party. But maybe we didn't have a leader who really understood the rakyat. I'm from the kampung. I know what the people need and I can deliver,' he said. He said rhetoric from local-based parties was limited to certain areas and did not resonate in rural constituencies, where basic needs remain unmet. 'They don't care about sentiments like local versus national politics or mining scandals,' he said. 'What they want is water supply during Raya, roads to their kebun, electricity to cook with, the internet... I know how to deliver that.' He said that during his two-year stint as works minister he had tried to solve the water supply issue by privatising water supply — a controversial idea in the state, where public utilities remain under government control. 'Sabah is one of the only states where water hasn't been privatised. I know it's not popular, but it can work,' he said. 'Yes, some will have to pay more — but we can have a tiered tariff system to be fair. 'For households using under RM30 per month – no need to pay at all. Those who use more, will pay more,' he added. No going back to GRS After what he described as betrayal and sabotage by former allies in GRS, Bung has ruled out any pre-election cooperation with the coalition — despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's vision of a three-way alliance between PH, BN, and GRS. PH would be a viable partner given its urban base and its popularity in Chinese-majority areas. 'PH is a good partner. But GRS? No. There's just too much bad history,' he said. He said he is aware that BN's ability to lead in the state again depends on how many seats it can win — ideally 30 to 40 — to avoid needing GRS's support to form government and be chief minister. 'That's why we have to win big. Everyone says they have the best chance. So let's see. 'We'll cross that bridge when we get there,' he said.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
States rejects proposal for chief minister public vote
The States Assembly has rejected an "entirely unworkable" proposal to have the position of chief minister elected via a public vote. In a States meeting on Wednesday, former chief minister Deputy Kristina Moore proposed the role should be elected through an Jersey-wide vote, held in parallel with the general election. Ms Moore said the change would boost public engagement in the elections and "offer the electorate a greater level of transparency".The assembly rejected the proposition by 43 votes to one. Ms Moore was the only member in favour. She said: "Accountability of the role of chief minister within the public arena is lacking as voters do not have a say on who should be elected to the role. "Voters should be provided with the opportunity to indicate their preferred candidate for chief minister during the voting process." 'Presidential system' Ms Moore added it was possible under her proposal that an individual with no political experience might be elected."If this were the case, it is anticipated that the electorate would have made the decision based on the clear leadership qualities of the candidate who would be supported by the professional civil service in the transition," she said. Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache said the idea was "entirely unworkable.""There is a fundamental distinction between a presidential system and a ministerial system," he Kirsten Morel added the proposition would "turn the election into a presidential election".He said: "In an island of 100,000 people there is no place for a presidential election. "It would be damaging, it would be divisive and it would ultimately turn the island in many ways against each other, I fear."
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Amid ‘poster boy' poser, Sabah DAP chief calls for PH-BN talks
Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe said it would be premature to propose a 'poster boy', a week after Sabah Umno mooted Bung Moktar Radin for the role. PETALING JAYA : Sabah DAP has called on Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional to engage in meaningful discussions ahead of the coming state assembly elections, rather than prematurely staking claims to the position of chief minister. State DAP chairman Phoong Jin Zhe said PH-BN's chief ministerial candidate must be a person who is capable of attracting voters and supports the formation of a unity state government that serves the people. Phoong said it would be premature for any party leader in BN or PH to nominate a 'poster boy' even before discussions have commenced. 'Let's sit down and talk first. Let's not jump the gun. Anyone can be a poster boy. But what matters is who can attract the most voters, offer stability and deliver reforms that Sabahans want,' he told FMT. 'We should have more internal discussions and fewer statements,' he said. Phoong, a minister in Hajiji Noor's state Cabinet, said PH had its own pool of candidates capable of assuming the state's top post. However, he said discussions should be focused on building consensus rather than staking claims, pushing certain figures forward or squabbling for seats. 'We need to sort out our differences and agree on what we want to achieve. We need to ask ourselves: What do Sabahans want? They want reforms, a solid manifesto and real progress,' he said. The secretariat of the unity government coalition had earlier announced that PH and BN had agreed to work together for the Sabah polls, following a meeting between their respective chairmen, Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Last week, Sabah Umno proposed that its chief, Bung Moktar Radin, be named BN's poster boy for the state elections, due this year. However, BN chairman Zahid played down the proposal as being premature. Keeping the door open for GRS Sabah PH is currently in an alliance with the state ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and has kept the door open to maintaining the alliance. Phoong said Sabah PH was comfortable working with BN and any other political party, as long as the priority was forming a stable and inclusive administration. 'Right now, it is BN and PH working together, but we are open to collaborating with any party to form a unity state government. Our goal is long-term development and investment. That requires more internal discussion and fewer public statements,' he added. GRS and PH are allies in the Sabah government, while BN sits as the opposition in the state assembly together with Warisan. However, all four parties are coalition allies in the federal government. In January 2023, Sabah BN almost toppled the GRS-led state government after it withdrew support for Hajiji as chief minister. Hajiji was able to hang on to his position with the support of Sabah PH. The chief minister, for his part, has repeatedly expressed an eagerness to continue the existing GRS-PH alliance.
