Sabah BN has unofficially discussed with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to work together for the Jan 18 Kimanis by-election, revealed Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin (above).

The discussion was held to also persuade PBS to support BN's candidate in the polls.

As of today, four opposition parties, namely the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) have decided to stay out of the by-election.

Only PBS, which left BN after the 2018 general election, is still undecided. In April, PBS announced its plan to contest in Kimanis if the court nullifies the election result for the seat.

PBS won Kimanis in the 1990s until it joined BN.

It was reported that Sabah-based opposition parties, including Star, SAPP and Usno, are trying hard to form an opposition bloc to face Warisan and Harapan in the 15th general election.

The Tanjung Piai by-election last month saw the success story of a united opposition bloc under Muafakat Nasional, beating Harapan with an overwhelming majority of 15,085 votes.

The by-election in Kimanis, which is 55km away from Kota Kinabalu, has become a test to see whether these opposition parties can unite together to face Warisan in a straight fight.

BN had announced that it will contest in the parliamentary seat, which was held by former Umno leader Anifah Aman for three terms.

“I am confirming that there was a discussion among us and it will be followed up with official talks," Bung was quoted by the Borneo Post as saying after attending the PBS Christmas open house on Wednesday.

"I am confident that there will be a positive result in the collaboration, just like our support for PBS during the Sandakan by-election,” he said.

Bung was responding to Sabah Cultural Board chairperson Ismaily Bungsu (below), who said on social media that PBS would never collaborate with Umno because the party is from Malaya, and corrupt.

“It is just his (Ismaily’s) perception. In fact, Umno and PBS had worked together during the Sandakan by-election," responded Bung.

“His statement, saying Umno is from Malaya is also irrelevant because Bersatu, PKR and DAP are his party’s (Warisan) allies and they are from Malaya,” he said.

Bung is confident that both parties will arrive at a consensus in the next discussion as Sabah BN and PBS share the same goal to oppose Warisan's decision to issue a Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) next year.

Despite this, PBS president Maximus Ongkili said his party has yet to make a decision on fielding a candidate for Kimanis.

“Actually, we have been discussing (with Sabah Umno) but it was not official, and we will make a decision before the nomination day.

“Kimanis is a multiracial constituency, and a political party like us will always have a place there,” Maximus said.

“PBS will support a candidate or a party that will fight for the state’s rights, especially the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the promise to ensure Sabah is safe from illegal immigrants and, of course, opposing PSS,” he added.

“If Umno’s candidate meets these criteria, we will support them,” he said when asked if PBS will support Umno in Kimanis, just like Umno supported PBS in the Sandakan by-election.

The Star quoted a PBS source as admitting there is some difficulty for the party to give direct support to its former allies in BN.

"Though we are all in the Opposition, we don't want people to say that we are walking in and out of BN," he said.

The source further said the Kimanis by-election should be a vote against the PSS, which Umno has still not come out with a clear stand on.

In September, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said temporary passes would be issued, from June 1 next year, to some 600,000 immigrants who have been living for decades in Sabah.

It was reported that the group comprises current holders of IMM13 issued to Filipino refugees who fled to Sabah in the 1970s, economic migrants with Burung-Burung cards in the 1980s, and those who registered under the Federal Special Task Force Banci (census) cards in the 1990s.

Kimanis is reportedly a predominantly Muslim bumiputera seat, where Muslims make up 65 percent of the 29,664 voters, while Kadazandusuns make up 28 percent.