KOTA BELUD: Sabah Umno Liaison deputy chief Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has brushed aside the opposition’s claim that there will be a political tsunami or earthquake in Sabah, saying the Barisan Nasional (BN) is on the right track to winning the next general election.
Describing the claim as fanciful and exaggerated, he said it was only intended to boost the opposition’s political clout and shore up support for it in the state regarded as a stronghold of the ruling BN.
“No doubt, the Barisan Nasional may probably face a tough challenge, especially in the urban or suburban areas, but the majority of the people of Sabah still favour the BN to govern the state and the country.
“Surely, there will be no political tsunami or earthquake in Sabah. This is merely a political propaganda to create doubt or confusion among the electorate. The truth is the BN remains strong and intact,” he told reporters after meeting local grassroots leaders, here, yesterday.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was quoted as saying in Sabah recently that there would be a shock uprising of the Sabah people in the next general election.
Salleh, who is the Sabah Legislative Assembly Speaker, expressed confidence that that BN would emerge victorious in the next general election.
He called on the people not to be swayed by the opposition propaganda and instead continue to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s numerous transformation programmes for the good of their future.
“I believe that what happened in the peninsula in the 2008 general election will not happen in Sabah. In fact, the political landscape in the country has changed markedly in the last four years under the premiership of Najib.
“Apparently, Najib has changed the fortune of the ruling BN for the better. Najib, who adopted a people-friendly approach in tackling the various problems, is well-liked by the people. He is prepared to listen to the woes or grouses of the people and is willing to go down to look at the condition on the ground,” he said.
Salleh said this was certainly a plus point for the BN in championing the cause of the people. — Bernama