According to a Borneo Today report, the visit may be the precursor to early state elections as the Barisan Nasional chairman wants to see for himself how prepared the Sabah BN is.
This is because the Sabah BN has been trying to persuade the BN leadership to hold early polls in the state.
The report even mentioned April 13 as the possible date for the dissolution of the Sabah State Assembly and that, according to pundits, nomination day would be April 21 with elections to be held on May 5.
“Officially he is on a working visit to launch some projects and do a walk-about in Sandakan and Putatan, but he is really here to get his own feedback on early polls sought by the chief minister,” Borneo Today quoted an unnamed “well-connected source” as saying.
“There are some loose ends that he wants tied up first before he gives the green light,” added the source.
Chief Minister Musa Aman, it is speculated, wants elections based on the current 60 seats but others want the additional 13 new seats created in a redelineation exercise to be incorporated before polls are held.
The report said a Sabah Umno team had briefed the BN national leaders earlier this week, saying the current situation, with a disjointed opposition, could help BN win 55-57 seats.
Najib is scheduled to meet state Umno leaders during the visit.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on a recent visit to Sabah, had said Musa had strong reasons to propose early polls and that an in-depth analysis was needed before a decision was made. He had added that it would be discussed with Najib.
Today, Najib is scheduled to officiate the Hardcore Poor Housing Programme in Lupak Meluas here, before joining the congregation at the Lupak Meluas Wasatiyyah Mosque for prayers.
In the afternoon, he will go on a walkabout at the Sandakan Harbour Square before heading for Kota Kinabalu.
On Saturday, among other functions, he is scheduled to go on another walkabout at Tamu Putatan before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.
The report said Parti Bersatu Sabah secretary-general Johnny Mositun, who is Sabah Assembly deputy speaker, told reporters that the Sabah State Assembly would meet for six days between April 6 and 13.
He, however, declined to entertain speculation as to whether it would be the last session before the dissolution of the assembly.
He said, according to the report, that such as decision had to be made by the chief minister and the BN leadership.