Rahman said Sabah Umno has yet to decide on partnering with any party for the polls.

“The Sabah Umno leadership is still engaging with all parties, which means that an official decision is yet to be made on who it will partner with for the coming state election.

“I hope that all Sabah Umno’s members, supporters and activists at the grassroots level will remain patient until an official decision is made,” he said in a statement today.

Rahman was responding to a claim by Warisan president Shafie Apdal that the party and Sabah Umno will work together for the next state election.

Shafie, a former Sabah chief minister, also said Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin had agreed to an alliance to take on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), led by chief minister Hajiji Noor.

Rahman said Sabah Umno division leaders recently agreed that the chapter would engage the other political parties to assess if they would make suitable allies for the state election.

The term of the current Sabah government will expire in October 2025.

However, Hajiji has hinted at the possibility of the next state election being held as early as next year.

Shafie and Bung had previously attempted to topple Hajiji’s government in January.

The move failed to materialise after six Sabah Umno assemblymen refused to lend their support. Hajiji then obtained the support of Sabah Pakatan Harapan, enabling GRS to remain in power.

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