SANDAKAN: Barisan Nasional (BN) has been instrumental in developing Sabah for over 34 years, giving it a far deeper understanding of the state’s needs compared to the current State Government, asserted UMNO’s Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The UMNO Supreme Council member and Head of the party’s War Room Secretariat stated that despite being labelled a ‘Malayan party’ by its rivals, particularly Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), the factual reality is that BN established the foundation for the progress and increased revenue that Sabah enjoys today.
“They call us a Malayan party, but we are the ones who developed Sabah for 34 years. GRS has only been in Sabah for three years, but they are boastful as if they are the old guard,” Ahmad said in his address at the UMNO Libaran division “ramah mesra” programme here yesterday.
He cited major infrastructure and economic projects as evidence of BN’s legacy, including the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), the Sabah Ammonia and Urea Project (SAMUR), and the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu.
Ahmad Maslan also defended BN’s local credentials, emphasising its inclusive coalition structure.
“BN is both a local and national coalition; within it is the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), which is 100 percent local,” he added.
In a firm directive to party members, Ahmad Maslan called for a clear identification of political adversaries and expressed a stance against any electoral cooperation with both GRS and Warisan. He further indicated that even Bebas, which has declared its intention to contest 10 seats, is considered an opponent.
Expressing optimism for the upcoming State Election, he voiced strong confidence in the UMNO Libaran division’s preparedness. He believes the division is well-positioned to not only retain the Sungai Sibuga and Sungai Manila state seats but also to capture the Gum-Gum seat from the opposition.
“I see the preparations are very thorough. It is not impossible for us to achieve a major victory,” he concluded. – James Leong
