Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he is confident that the cooperation between the BN and GRS machinery would help them achieve the target, including the seats in zone five of Sabah covering Beluran, Libaran, Batu Sapi, Sandakan and Kinabatangan.
“In Sabah, I am told that (BN-GRS) can contribute a minimum of 14 (parliamentary) seats towards (the formation) of the federal government. The formation of the federal government is dependent on the seats in Sabah.
“As such, I’m counting on the contribution (of parliamentary seats) from Sabah, especially in the zone five areas,” he said in his speech at a meet-and-greet programme with the people of Libaran at the Gum Gum People’s Housing Project here.
Also present were Sabah deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state BN chairman, and BN’s Libaran candidate Suhaimi Nasir.
BN, which comprises Umno, MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), has forged a collaboration with GRS, which is made up of Sabah Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), to govern the state.
This collaboration, which will continue in GE15, sees BN and GRS fielding their candidates in 12 and 13 seats respectively in the 25 parliamentary seats in the state.
The Umno vice-president also reminded the people, especially Sabahans, to choose a party that can defend their destiny, take care of their welfare and provide for a better future.
He said BN is a coalition capable of providing the best service to the people through various high-impact development projects, such as the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway.
Ismail said this was different from Pakatan Harapan, which helmed the federal government for 22 months after GE14, adding that it had failed to fulfil its promises and instead cancelled development projects approved by BN.
In GE15, Suhaimi will be involved in a six-cornered fight with Peter Jr Naintin (PH-UPKO), Sharif Bokrata Sharif Hassan (Warisan), Noordin Khaning (Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah), Jeffri Pudang (Pejuang) and Amdan @ Saban Tumpang (independent).