KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) will not contest in Sarawak in the next state election, keeping with its promise to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
BN chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this to the media when asked if BN intended to contest the looming Sarawak state election.
He was attending the Deepavali open house held by BN's component party - the Malaysia's People's Progressive Party (PPP).
Also in attendance were PPP president Datuk Dr J. Loga Bala Mohan and MIC secretary-general Datuk Seri M Saravanan.
“BN has no intention of contesting any seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.
“This is based on the understanding between Umno and PBB in Sarawak. Umno and BN have never had any intention of fielding candidates in the Sarawak state elections,” he said.
The last time BN contested in a Sarawak state election was on May 7, 2016, during the 11th Sarawak State Election.
On Dec 2021, BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announced that BN would not contest the 12th Sarawak State Election and would instead support Gabungan Parti Sarawak, of which PBB is a component. - THE STAR