Speaking to FMT, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) supreme council member Itoh Manggong said Zahid’s words did not augur well for the community, who formed the majority of the Matunggong voters.
“It is as if the local component party in BN is not capable of representing the seat in the state assembly.
“It is insulting to the Rungus people, especially those who still harbour the thought of casting their votes for a BN candidate in the coming election.”
Matunggong voters chose PKR candidate Jelani Hamdan in the previous election.
He beat PBS candidate Sarapin Magana by 320 votes. Jelani, however, left PKR, and he is now considered as BN-friendly.
Itoh said voters in Matunggong had rejected the BN in the previous election and he was confident that they would again reject any BN candidate in the coming election.
“Umno leaders can come to Matunggong and show their arrogance and audacity to the people in Matunggong but, rest assured, the Rungus community is matured and can’t be hoodwinked.”
Itoh also expressed his sympathy for Kota Marudu MP and PBS deputy president Maximus Ongkili, who still had the respect of the people in Matunggong.
“Ongkili is still a respected leader for the Rungus community.
“For Zahid to come to Matunggong and humiliate Ongkili in front of the Rungus is something that we, the Rungus, cannot take lightly.
“I think this has given the Rungus community even more reasons to reject Umno and its BN partners in the coming election,” he said.
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