SABAH Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin will lead seat negotiations for Barisan Nasional (BN), as well as head the coalition’s campaign in the coming state election, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Bung Moktar, the Kinabatangan MP, will also be in charge of proposing a candidate for chief minister.

However, the candidate will only be determined after the polls, and only if BN wins the state election, Zahid said today.

“If, after the state election, we get a simple majority, discussions will be held with all the assemblymen.

“There are 73 seats to contest in Sabah. The forming of the state government will be the second phase after the election,” Zahid told a press conference in Parliament today.

Bung Moktar, who was also at the press conference, said the BN logo will be used in the state election.

Sabah heads to the polls on September 26, with nomination of candidates on September 12, and early voting on the September 22.

The state assembly was dissolved on July 30 at the request of caretaker chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal to the state governor to stave off an attempt by former chief minister Musa Aman, who claimed he had the support of 32 reps, to take over the government.

On seat negotiations, Zahid said Bung Moktar would be negotiating with other parties in BN as well as parties outside BN, including Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Star.

“Apart from Umno and PBRS (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah), which are members of BN, there are several other Sabah political parties, of course they will want to contest their seats and contribute to forming the state government.”

On Bersatu seats originally won on a BN ticket, Zahid said the matter would be discussed between Bung Moktar and the Sabah Bersatu chief.

Negotiations will also include Parti Cinta Sabah, which is led by former BN minister Anifah Aman who has left Umno. – August 18, 2020.