Bersatu is staging a political comeback in Sabah under the slogan “Make Sabah Great” as it gears up for the state election expected to be held this year.
Bersatu deputy president Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin said the party is determined to prove critics wrong after many declared the party dead following the mass exodus of its Sabah leaders.
“We’ve been quietly restructuring our divisions across Sabah, and today we’ve shown that Bersatu is still here,” he said after launching Perikatan Nasional’s tour in Kota Kinabalu on Monday night.
“This event, organised in just three days, was meant to test the waters – and we’ve proven that not only can we rally our members, but we’re also seeing support from non-members.”
Hamzah’s comments come in view of former Bersatu state chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and several leaders who left the party in November 2022.
The group later became direct members of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and took over Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah to remain in power.
Meanwhile, Hamzah dismissed claims that Perikatan Nasional (PN) lacks a strong presence in Sabah, asserting that the coalition is prepared to contest the state election.
“In our last election, we contested 18 seats and won 11. This proves that even with limited time, we can succeed. Now, we’ve been preparing for almost five years, and our base in Sabah is solid,” he said.
Hamzah questioned the push for local-based parties, noting that several Sabah leaders have been actively working with national coalitions, including Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PKR.
“If they believe in the importance of local-based parties, why are they collaborating with PH, PKR, and DAP?
“Those are not local-based coalitions. Why is PN the only one being scrutinised?”
The Bersatu leader confirmed PN will contest in Sabah, saying preparations have been ongoing since 2020.
“We’re not here to make grand statements, but we have an open stance to work with any like-minded leaders who want to shape Sabah’s future.
“The ‘Make Sabah Great’ slogan is not just rhetoric — we want to make it a reality,” he said.
Hamzah hinted at informal talks with local leaders but said no formal alliances have been made yet.
Also present at the event was Sabah Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee. – January 16, 2025.
