BANGI: The next Sabah election is likely to be held next year, but tension is already brewing among component parties in Perikatan Nasional over the contest for the state polls.
This comes after Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang stated that it is up to the PN leadership to decide whether the coalition will contest in the Sabah polls.
The Marang member of Parliament made this remark despite calls from the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), a Sabah-based PN component, for the national opposition parties to stay out of the state election.
"We will decide (whether to contest in the upcoming polls), not them," he told reporters briefly after a Perikatan Nasional-led state governments (SG4) conference."
Yesterday, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee reiterated that national parties should stay out of the state polls.
(https://www.nst.com.my/amp/news/politics/2024/09/1099811/sapp-says-it-ag...)
Yong said SAPP, which is also a part of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will contest under the ruling state coalition's ticket in the next Sabah election.
When asked whether Pas will contest in the Sabah state election, Abdul Hadi said the matter is still under discussion with the party.
When asked again whether PN will collaborate with GRS, Abdul Hadi said they will see what is best for the party.
The 16th Sabah elections were held in September 2020. The current state assembly will be automatically dissolved by October next year, after which a state election will need to be held within 60 days.