KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) will use the party's victory in the Nenggiri by-election yesterday as a morale booster and guide for facing the 17th State Election, expected next year.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the campaign strategies employed during the by-election could serve as a reference for Sabah BN's machinery to attract voter support in the state polls.

He added that the situation and development issues in Kelantan, particularly in the Nenggiri state legislative assembly, had many similarities with Sabah.

"There are experiences we gained from the campaign strategies and domestic issues, especially infrastructure development in Nenggiri, which are not much different from the situation in Sabah."

Bung Moktar, who is also the Sabah Umno chief, said the people of Kelantan, especially in Nenggiri, rejected Perikatan Nasional and Pas due to the state government's failure to develop the state.

He said the lack of basic infrastructure and economic improvement had left the state lagging in development.

"The situation is not much different from what the people of Sabah are currently experiencing due to the state government's failure to realise the 'Sabah Maju Jaya' slogan despite governing Sabah for over four years.

"Therefore, it is not impossible that the people of Sabah will bring about change similar to what happened in Nenggiri.

"The victory will provide a paradigm shift for Umno and BN members, especially in Sabah, to rise and defend the people after being denied and betrayed, despite making the biggest contribution in forming the state government after the last state election," he said.

Meanwhile, Bung Moktar, who is also Kinabatangan member of Parliament, believed that Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani's victory in Nenggiri was significant for BN's resurgence in the country, particularly in Kelantan.

"This election is not just an ordinary election because Kelantan is known as a Pas stronghold. The recent Nenggiri by-election has revealed a growing shift in the people's sentiments.

"It sends a message to rise and bring about change, especially in terms of development that the Kelantan state government has failed to deliver, particularly in the Nenggiri area," he said.

However, he stressed that Umno and BN needed to remain steadfast and not be too proud of this success, instead, be determined to continue working hard to translate this victory across the country.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/08/1093034/sabah-bn-will-use-nenggiri-victory-guide-next-state-polls