“Sabah Umno discussed this at our meeting just now and decided not to put up a candidate for the by-election,” said the deputy chief minister during a press conference here today.
“The decision was made because Umno did not contest in that seat in the previous state election.”
Bung said it would be better if a state of emergency is declared for Bugaya as well to postpone the by-election, as what was done for the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election.
“It is best to postpone the by-election first because it is for the people’s benefit.”
The Election Commission (EC) had previously said it will go ahead with the Bugaya state and Gerik parliamentary by-elections. EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said both by-elections will be held on Jan 16.
Nominations will be held on Jan 4, followed by early voting on Jan 12.
The by-elections follow the death of Warisan’s Bugaya assemblyman Manis Muka Mohd Darah on Nov 17 and two-term Gerik MP Hasbullah Osman the day before.
Salleh Keruak back in Umno
Meanwhile, Bung also said Umno has welcomed back several former Umno leaders who had left the fold previously, namely former federal minister Salleh Said Keruak and former Papar Umno chief Abdul Rahim Ismail.
Others accepted are James Ratib, Bolkiah Ismail and Jamawi Jaafar, who had left the party to join Warisan previously.
“We have also appointed Salleh as the Sabah BN election director for the coming election,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Bung gave an assurance that what transpired in Perak, where the menteri besar lost a vote of confidence in the state assembly, will not happen in Sabah so long as the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) parties worked together.
He said the sentiments in Perak are different from that in Sabah.
“We prioritise the people’s interests. We hope GRS leaders will understand each other well — we must be seen to work together,” said the Lamag assemblyman.
Asked on what assurance there was that Umno will not do the same to PPBM in Sabah, Bung said GRS leaders needed to place trust in each other.
“This depends on our sincerity — Umno is sincere, we will not betray our friends. At the same time, we ask our friends not to betray us, too.
“This concept of working together means any decision taken must be made together. But our (GRS) solidity is intact,” he said.