Responding to comments by political analyst Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah Umno deputy chairman Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the results from the last state election four years ago showed that BN remains a viable option for voters.

“In the 2020 Sabah election, BN secured more state assembly seats compared to most other political parties that contested,” he told FMT, referring to the 14 seats won by the coalition.

Yesterday, FMT quoted Bilcher as saying the BN brand in Sabah is now perceived as outdated and requires transformation through collaboration with other parties to achieve electoral success.

He was commenting on Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin’s statement that the coalition was prepared to go solo in the upcoming state election if no agreement is reached with other parties on cooperation.

However, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said earlier they had finalised a partnership with Pakatan Harapan for the state election, while also leaving open the possibility of including Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

Rahman said going solo should only be a last resort for any political party in Sabah, including BN, if a strategic alliance cannot be formed.

“In a political landscape where each party has its strengths and weaknesses, it is essential for political parties to prioritise the stability of Sabah as a primary agenda.

“The risk of Sabah’s politics descending into instability is high if all parties choose to go solo without forming alliances,” he said.