"WE ARE ALSO CALLING ALL THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE THEIR SEATS AS A RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT A PRIVILEGE," - MUSA

Several new faces likely: CM

Tawau September 26, 2011: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said there is a likelihood that the State Barisan Nasional may field several new faces in the coming 13th General Election.

"We have not determined (the new candidates) yet.

We will select and discuss the matter with the Prime Minister first," he said, adding Sabah BN is ready for the general election anytime. Musa is also Sabah BN chief.

What is certain is that whoever is chosen must be winnable, be willing to work hard and be accepted by the people "as we are calling present leaders to go down the ground and get closer to the people".

 "We are also calling all the elected representatives to take their seats as a responsibility and not a privilege," he said.

"People know that the BN government is always truthful and committed to fulfil its pledges for the people," Musa said.

On the National 2012 Budget that would be tabled by the Prime Minister next week, Musa hoped Sabah would get the necessary funding for infrastructure development such as water and electricity for rural areas.

Earlier, in KOTA KINABALU, the Chief Minister said Upko's suggestion for Umno not to contest more than 50 per cent of the number of seats in any general election would be considered and discussed among stakeholders.

Responding to a statement by Upko President, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, who reiterated a commitment made by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, Musa said: "We will discuss with all the stakeholders in Sabah for the benefit of everyone."

He said other issues brought up by Dompok at its congress such as illegal immigrants would also be looked into.

He said the Barisan Nasional (BN) of which he is State Chairman, is equally concerned about it. The issues raised by Upko, he said, had been sent in a memorandum form to the relevant parties or persons.

Dompok said that in the spirit of the coalition, the Barisan should take the commitment by Dr Mahathir when the time comes to discuss seat allocation.

This is especially so in respect of seats formerly held by former component members of the coalition, he said.

He said that in the first Sabah State General Election in 1967, out of 32 seats, Usno won 14, Upko took 12, Perikatan won three, SCA bagged two and an Independent won one.

In the 1980s, he said of the 48 seats, 18 went to non-Muslim Bumiputera areas, 16 for Muslim Bumiputeras, eight for Chinese and six were mixed areas.

However, in the post 1990 re-delineation of electoral boundaries of the 48 seats, a new configuration emerged with a Muslim Bumiputera majority in 27 areas, non-Muslim Bumiputera in only 11 seats, Chinese areas reduced marginally to seven and mixed areas, three.

That was why, in the 2008 General Elections of the 60 Sabah State seats, Umno contested and won in 32 seats, PBS (12), LDP (3), MCA (1), PBRS (1) and Upko (6). The then BN component party SAPP won four while one seat went to DAP.

-----

‘Parachute candidates’ for next election a no-no – MP

“If we have the machinery in Sabah headed by the Chief Minister, it therefore follows that he will determine the direction of either the victory or the defeat of the candidates,”

“We do not want any element from outside who makes criticisms. And if this happens before the election, we will lose,”

if the candidate chosen was ‘thrown in a parachute from above’, Sabah BN should not be held responsible if the candidate lost.

Kalabakan member of parliament Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh