KOTA KINABALU: Analysts expect Barisan Nasional to run into trouble in the Sept 26 Sabah state election for excluding former chief minister Musa Aman from its list of candidates.
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Musa’s supporters might retaliate by fielding independent candidates to split votes.
He told FMT it was possible that Musa himself would contest as an independent.
Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said BN was denying itself the financial support for its campaign that would have come Musa’s group.
He also said there was a possibility that Musa’s supporters would switch to PPBM.
Sabah BN election chief Bung Moktar Radin, who leads Sabah Umno, announced yesterday that Umno would seek election in 31 constituencies.
Musa is among several state Umno leaders excluded from the candidates list. The others, who are seen to be aligned to him, include Umno Supreme Council member Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Papar Wanita Umno chief Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin and Sabah Umno Wanita chief Jainab Ahmad Ayid.
Bung said at a press conference the party respected all leaders, including Musa, but added that the former chief minister had not asked to be a candidate for BN.
Azman said Bung was showing courage in not including Musa in his list but pointed out that he was taking a gamble.
“This is because everyone knows Musa is a very powerful warlord,” he said.
“Musa needs to be brought to the discussion table and placed in a strategic position to prevent him from being upset.”
But he also said Musa was seen more as a candidate for the Sabah governor’s position and was better for him to sit out the election and let new faces come to the fore.
Lee noted that most of the listed candidates were newcomers, and it appeared that Umno wanted to thrust young blood into the fray.
“I think it’s time to move on and field new faces, give more room to the younger leaders,” he said.
Azman agreed, saying fielding too many old leaders could “create a mess” when it came to deciding who should be chief minister if BN won the election.
He said leaders like Rahman were seen as strong rivals to Bung in the running to be the next chief minister.
He recalled that Rahman recently led a group of Sabah Umno division leaders in objecting to Bung’s appointment as the Sabah BN election chief.
“Rahman will not get any favour from Bung because of the attempt for political dominance,” he said.
“Also, his political career was impeded because he lost in the last general election. So his voice is considered less relevant.”
Lee said former federal minister Salleh Said Keruak, who will stand in Usukan on a BN ticket, was also a potential candidate for the chief minister’s post.
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