Staying flexible: Ahmad Zahid (left) chairing the National Disaster Management Committee meeting at the Kota Kinabalu Federal Government Administrative Complex. — Bernama
KOTA KINABALU: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is optimistic about forging electoral pacts ahead of the Sabah election which is due by September.
Ahmad Zahid, who also heads Barisan Nasional, said the coalition is open to discussions with all parties to form alliances.
“I see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. I am open to forming party alliances. I believe the door should not be shut too tightly, nor should it be left too wide open.
“This means we remain highly flexible in holding discussions with various parties so that this coalition can bring about political stability, particularly in Sabah,” he told reporters during a visit to the Lido-Moyog River Basin near here yesterday.
It is understood that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is keen to see an electoral pact in Sabah, aligning with the Federal Government’s cooperation framework.
However, political differences between Sabah Barisan, led by state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), headed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, are seen as obstacles to an electoral pact between Sabah Barisan, GRS and Sabah Pakatan Harapan.
When asked if Barisan had held formal talks with any party in Sabah, Ahmad Zahid said they remain open about this and that discussions should continue if they serve the state’s best interests.
Pressed on whether an official meeting had taken place with GRS, he declined to comment, saying he was “not in a position to disclose that information to the media”.
On sentiments among Barisan grassroots, where some division leaders prefer working with Pakatan over GRS, Ahmad Zahid reiterated that the coalition remains open to alliances.
“We are holding discussions with all parties. The priority must be the people, ensuring that political issues are resolved in the best possible way.
“Most importantly, key party leaders in Sabah Umno must adopt an open mindset,” he said.
As part of its proactive strategy, he said the government has implemented Local Flood Mitigation Plans and allocated RM22bil nationwide for flood mitigation projects.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid chaired a high-level committee meeting on national disaster management, with discussions centred on flood- related issues and solutions affecting Sabah and Sarawak since last month.
During the meeting, it was revealed that 14 flood mitigation projects are planned for Sabah, of which two have been completed and are currently in the defect liability period, 10 are under construction and two are in the pre-implementation phase.
Similarly, in Sarawak, 10 flood mitigation projects have been planned, with two completed and in the defect liability period. Two projects are under construction, while six are in the pre-implementation phase.
In the last flood episode, Sabah experienced two major flooding events – the first from Jan 17 to 20, affecting three districts, and the second from Jan 27 to Feb 16, impacting 14 districts.
A total of 3,120 households, involving 9,735 people, were relocated to 68 temporary evacuation centres set up during this period.
