KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is heading for Sabah to calm a brewing political storm.
"I will be flying off to Sabah today (Jan 7) immediately after this event.
"I will be issuing a good statement in Kota Kinabalu on Monday (Jan 8)," the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after visiting the Back to School MoodaFest 2024 on Sunday (Jan 7).
Ahmad Zahid, who was also Umno president, was asked to comment on the recent political developments in Sabah following talks of cooperation between Sabah Umno and Parti Warisan.
On Dec 14, talk of a tie-up between Sabah Umno and Warisan to take on the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government during the state polls grew louder following a meeting between Sabah Barisan chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Bung had attended Warisan's annual general meeting (AGM) upon an invitation by Shafie.
The parties were said to be looking at ways to work together during the coming state polls which were expected to take place later this year.
So far, there has been no decision on whether Sabah Umno would collaborate with other parties in the polls that were due in September 2025.
In January last year, Sabah Umno withdrew its support for the GRS state government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who managed to retain control of the administration with the support of Sabah Pakatan Harapan and renegades from Sabah Umno.
GRS currently comprised of seven members; namely Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah STAR, the United National Sabah Organisation (Usno), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), LDP and Harapan Rakyat.
On Saturday (Jan 6), Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir said that Sabah Umno has been granted autonomy to decide on its partners in the coming state election.
The Libaran Umno division chief also chided a call by Gerakan Kuasa Malaysia (G57) chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar for Bung to resign as Sabah Umno chief.
He said that no outside parties or individuals had the right to ask for Bung to resign from his post if he decided to work with Warisan or any other party in the state.
