Sabah state elections still under scrutiny, says Zahid

KOTA MARUDU - Talks about Sabah state election to be held much earlier than the 14th General Election (GE14) is only speculation because the matter had not been decided at the federal and state Barisan Nasional (BN) levels.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision to hold state polls in Sabah would not only take into account the political situation in the state but also nationwide.

“Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak), who is also BN chairman, has not finalised any study obtained based on numerous feedbacks from the empirical studies conducted.

“Positive implications must also be prioritised in considering a decision to hold a general election,” he told reporters after simultaneously launching the Umno branches, Wanita, Youth and Puteri movements meetings in the Kota Marudu Divisions here today.

Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman as State Umno Liaison Committee chairman; Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili as Kota Marudu Member of Parliament and Umno Kota Marudu Division chief Datuk Wetrom Bahanda.

In a related development, Ahmad Zahid said he had decided to conduct two working visits to Sabah every month as promised to the state government and State UMNO Liaison Committee.

According to Ahmad Zahid, he would also visit Kota Marudu in six months’ time from now to ensure all the developments promised were implemented on schedule.

“In addition, we also want to look at the preparedness of the BN machinery in Kota Marudu and other Parlimentary and State Assembly areas,” he said. — Bernama