THE revival of Barisan Nasional (BN) in Sabah since losing power after the polls last year is in the works, said Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan today.

He said Umno is ready for an “organic” or a “jumpstart” coalition with any opposition parties in the state, similar to what the party is doing in Peninsular Malaysia.

“We are forming a new bloc for the opposition… We welcome any parties whether organic or a jumpstart type of coalition, either with any of the opposition parties or existing opposition bloc in Sabah,” he said after officiating the Tuaran Umno delegates meeting in Tuaran, Sabah.

Also present were state Umno chief Bung Mokhtar Radin and Umno Supreme Council member Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

BN in Sabah has been in disarray after losing power in the state during the previous general election and has since seen crossovers or state reps and parties leaving the once-powerful national coalition.

Sabah BN only comprises Umno, MCA and MIC now.

The bid to replace BN in Sabah with the new opposition bloc Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) had also run into a stumbling block.

GBS comprises Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah Star), Parti Bersatu Sabah and Sabah Umno, initially.  

The formation of GBS appears to be suspended indefinitely as it refuses to cooperate with Sabah Umno following Umno’s cooperation with PAS at the national level.

Umno is expected to endorse an alliance charter with PAS in Peninsular Malaysia in September, sealing the electoral cooperation.  

The new state Umno leadership was formed following the mass exodus of Umno reps, MPs and chiefs last December to join Bersatu, making them part of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

According to Mohamad, the mass exodus of Umno “warlords” had been a blessing for Sabah Umno as it paves the way for new leaders to move up ranks.

“The voters have waited long to see the old being replaced by new faces. Look at Sabah Umno, now we have young leaders coming up. They have no political baggage like the previous leaders.” 

Mohamad believes that the spirit of Umno is regaining traction in Sabah as the general public had come to realise their regrets of voting in PH.

PH’s failure is not just not fulfilling the election manifesto, but also in the growing racial and religious tensions among Malaysians, which Mohamad said has gone out of control, especially in the social media.

“Actually, what BN had faced before the last general election is the same thing that PH is experiencing now,” he said.

He noted that the harmony and peace that BN-Umno had worked hard for over 60 years had already been destroyed by PH in just less than two years of rule.

“At present, Umno is confident of being able to win in nine states in the peninsula and all it takes for us to regain power is for us to win in Sabah,” he said.

Towards this end, he said, the party is giving Sabah Umno its autonomy to decide on its administration and finances, as well as offering a “new deal” for Sabah.

The new deal includes realising state rights in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“In terms of selecting their own election candidates, the matter will be decided during the party’s annual general meeting in November,” he said. – August 17, 2019.