Drawing an analogy between politics and project management, he said in any state election, the people are the true owners of the project.

Salleh, a former chief minister, added that the people have the power to decide whether to “renew or replace the contractor” based on the government’s performance over the past five years.

“The ruling party is like a contractor entrusted to develop the state and serve the people. When the term ends, citizens must evaluate – was the work completed, were promises kept, and did the people truly benefit?” he said in a statement.

The Sabah Umno treasurer added that while no contractor is perfect, voters have the right to make comparisons to determine which party or coalition has shown the best results and the highest integrity.

Salleh noted that some projects require collaboration, stressing on the need for coalitions that know how to cooperate and deliver better outcomes for the people.

“What matters most is not the name, but the results and performance. Choose the contractor – or coalition of contractors – who have proven capable, experienced, and honest in carrying out their responsibility,” he said.

The 17th Sabah election will be held on Nov 29, with nomination day set for Nov 15, and early voting on Nov 25.

The state assembly has 79 seats, with 73 of them being contested. The other six seats are for appointed assemblymen.