Barisan Nasional (BN) is unhappy with Pakatan Harapan (PH) over early seat demands , with party sources revealing a fresh point of tension involving three hotly contested constituencies.

While official negotiations between PH and BN are only scheduled to begin in early July, informal exchanges have already sparked friction. 

BN insiders say PH has asked to contest in Nabawan, Sindumin and Sungai Manila — all of which are regarded as strongholds or traditional seats for Sabah Umno.

“They made demands. But the three seats they’re asking for — those are our seats. 

“We can’t just give them away,” said a senior BN source familiar with the early talks.

The source added that BN remains open to negotiation but finds the current posture by PH problematic, especially since PH is also asking for BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to step aside from these areas. 

“PH wants us not to contest their seats. They’re saying, ‘Don’t disturb our areas.’ And then they ask us to help them — but only on their terms,” the source said.

This comes after both the national level of BN and PH officially announced their electoral cooperation on May 9. 

The source also confirmed that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah is out of the equation and would be excluded from the meeting next month. 

“There’s no cooperation with GRS. That’s already decided. The reality is, if seat overlaps happen, there’s no cooperation. If there are no overlaps, then we talk,” said the BN source. 

The source also revealed that two of the seats — Sindumin and Sungai Manila — may have already been earmarked by the state’s highest-ranking leader for his sons. 

One of them is said to be eyeing a run under a PKR ticket in Sungai Manila while Sindumin is also a former MP. 

“Yes, the leader wants his sons to contest […],” the source claimed 

The fact that the leader was also linked to Sabah Umno in the past also made it difficult for them to opposed PH requests. 

In Nabawan, the situation is similarly contentious. 

PKR is believed to be eyeing the seat following the exit of incumbent Abdul Ghani Yassin who won the seat via the Umno ticket but later switched to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. 

The first formal meeting between PH and BN leaders in Sabah is expected to take place in the first week of July. 

It is also about the same time where GRS are expected to hold a supreme council meeting to decide whether they would contest in the Sabah election solo or work with other political partners. 

Both GRS and BN could not work  together for the state election although the Sabah BN chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin did not dismiss the possibility of working with them after the Sabah election. 

GRS and BN had a fallout in early 2023. 

BN, led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, has made its position clear: it plans to contest 40 out of 73 seats, leaving the remaining 33 to PH. 

Sabah Umno election director Jeffrey Nor Mohamed when contacted made no comment when asked about these claims, but merely stated that discussion are still underway between them and Sabah PH. 

PH, meanwhile, has yet to present a united seat strategy. Sabah PKR Information Chief Razeef Rakimin said the coalition is waiting for BN to initiate formal talks. 

“But we are not worried. We have our target seats and are open to cooperating with GRS and BN,” he said. “But if BN doesn’t come forward, negotiations won’t be concluded. We also don’t know whether BN is sincere, or just playing games before going against PH.” 

Razeef’s remarks reflect PKR’s internal proposal to contest 13 seats, as announced earlier by deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar. PKR currently holds two seats in Sabah — Inanam and Api-Api. 

Sabah DAP intends to contest around 10 seats, including defending its existing strongholds: Tanjung Papat, Kapayan, Likas, and Luyang. 

UPKO, which holds Kadamaian through party president Datuk Ewon Benedick, and Sabah Amanah have yet to declare how many seats they aim to contest. Ewon is currently tasked with coordinating PH’s seat negotiations. 

Despite holding only seven seats collectively, PH’s early demands are being viewed by BN as overreaching — especially given the request involves incumbent constituencies.  – June 16, 2025