A source familiar with the matter said the alliance would not involve the Hajiji Noor-led Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), despite the coalition being part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.
Instead, the source said the tie-up is likely to include Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM), which are also part of the current federal administration.
While most BN and PH state leaders support the collaboration and are awaiting confirmation from their party heads, there is opposition from some within PKR.
Sabah PH chairman Christina Liew is among the PKR representatives opposed to the tie-up, preferring to continue the cooperation established with GRS in January 2023 in governing the state.
Last January, Hajiji appointed PH assemblymen to the state Cabinet, including Liew who was made Sabah tourism, culture, and environment minister.
The reshuffle saw Bung Moktar Radin removed as deputy chief minister after BN withdrew support for the state government and chief minister.
“The majority of PH leaders, especially from DAP, prefer collaborating with BN and agree to compete against GRS,” the source said.
“At the state level, it has been decided, but at the presidential level, it has not yet been finalised. The definite coalition now is BN-PH, possibly with Warisan and PKDM.”
The source also said an agreement had been reached on the distribution of 73 state assembly seats, with BN to contest most rural areas and PH to focus on urban areas.
“The only overlap would be if other parties like Warisan join. There are about five or six overlapping seats with Umno, but this can be negotiated for a win-win solution,” the source said.
Yesterday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hinted that his coalition would be willing to consider working with PH in Sabah after the state election.
Sabah Umno had earlier signalled that it was willing to form a coalition with other parties ahead of the next state polls.
Bung, the Sabah Umno chief, was reported as saying that the state’s current political landscape meant only a coalition would be able to form a government.
It was previously speculated that Sabah Umno and Warisan would work together in the state polls after Warisan president Shafie Apdal announced the possibility at his party’s general assembly last December.
Meanwhile, GRS information chief Joniston Bangkuai was reported as saying that his coalition was “very comfortable” with Sabah PH and would further strengthen the existing cooperation.
The last Sabah election was held in September 2020. The state assembly will be automatically dissolved by October next year, after which polls must be held within 60 days.
FMT has reached out to Liew for comment.