BN TO ENGAGE GRS, OTHER PARTIES ON KINABATANGAN AND LAMAG POLLS

SEMENYIH, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) will hold discussions with all parties, particularly those forming the Sabah government, on the selection of candidates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the matter must be resolved through negotiations as the coalition is currently part of the state government.

“As we are part of the Sabah government, it is not impossible for us to engage in discussions not only with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), but also with other parties that previously contested in Lamag.

“For the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat as well, we will hold discussions. If negotiations can be conducted with all parties, that would be a better approach, especially since there are still up to 24 months remaining in the parliamentary term,” he said.

He told reporters this after officiating at the Indian Progress Front (IPF) General Assembly here today.

Bung Moktar, 66, died at a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Dec 5.

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that a special meeting will be held on Dec 16 to determine key dates for both by-elections.

In a separate development, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said he has yet to be asked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to submit names to fill vacancies in the Cabinet.

“The Prime Minister has not asked for any names yet. When the time comes, I will inform him,” he said.

At present, there are several vacancies in the MADANI Cabinet, namely Economy Minister, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister.

-- BERNAMA