PBS-Umno tension over Matunggong resolved

KOTA KINABALU: The brief tension between Barisan Nasional’s Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Umno in Matunggong division following seat allocation issues has been resolved. 

Matunggong, which falls under the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat, has always been a PBS seat but recently, there was a suggestion to have the seat lent to Umno for GE14.  Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman then reassured PBS that Matunggong and Kota Marudu would have their candidates there, and not Umno. 

Matunggong PBS women chief Julita Majungki said the party has put the tension behind them and thanked Matunggong Umno chief Datuk Wetrom @ Mohd Fikri Bahanda for his assurance of providing cooperation and assistance to win GE14. “We thank him (Wetrom) for stating his support for PBS and to help our candidate win in the election,” she said in a statement on Sunday (April 15). 

She said his assurance is a reflection of Barisan’s unity. 

“With the cooperation from all Barisan component parties, we believe we can win Matunggong and Kota Marudu,” Julita said.

The Matunggong Community Development officer said their focus now was to consolidate the Barisan election machinery and ensure victory for the Matunggong seat

. On April 9, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had suggested a formula of borrowing Matunggong from PBS to recapture the state seat, and gain a bigger majority win for Kota Marudu.

The call had caused an uproar, not just among PBS members, but also the Opposition. Wetrom had later met with Musa and assured him that Kota Marudu Umno would support whomever Barisan chooses to place there. 

“That is clear and I have explained to the chief minister that we will make sure that all Barisan candidates win,” he said.- The Star online