The Umno Sabah chief said the political situation in the peninsula was different from that in Sabah, where the public had given the mandate to GRS to form a new state government.

“In Sabah, Umno stands in solidarity with GRS because it is important to ensure that the people’s mandate in the 16th state polls is maintained. GRS is made up of Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Parti Bersatu Sabah.

“God willing, we will ensure this (cutting ties with PPBM) does not happen in Sabah because we wish to focus on developing the people and state economy,” he told reporters here today.

Zahid had announced at the Umno annual general assembly that the party was against cooperating with PPBM, Anwar Ibrahim or DAP.

He also said Umno would be contesting under the Barisan Nasional banner for GE15.

Bung, who is also Kinabatangan MP, said he was confident that this new strategy would help strengthen Umno which was currently “unstable” after suffering defeats.

“This is why Umno leaders at all levels, including the grassroots, need to strengthen the party by using new strategies to win the hearts of the people.

“With this, I see Umno returning to become the dominant party to win GE15,” he said.