KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has again reminded his Sabah Barisan Nasional troops that the state election could be called earlier than scheduled, saying they must be prepared for it.

       The Sabah Umno chief told the party’s machinery to already start working for this, warning that he did not want last-minute preparations.

       The Lamag assemblyman nonetheless said even if the 17th Sabah state election were to be called in October 2025 after the current state government’s term ended, they still did not have a lot of time.

       “That’s why we have to always be prepared,” he said during an event in Kinabatangan recently.

       “It is not impossible for the state polls to be held earlier so, we must work whatever the case to be ready,” Bung Moktar added.

       Speculations over an early election have been going around since last year.

       Even Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also chairman of the ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), has not discounted the possibility.

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       Speaking to members of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), the anchor party for the seven-party GRS, last November, Hajiji said while the coalition still had two more years in power, they might consider the state election earlier.

       When met by reporters after the event, the Gagasan Rakyat president, however, said he still has no idea when the state election would be held.

       Towards this end, Bung Moktar called on all Umno members, especially in Kinabatangan where he is MP, to come up with strategies including to counter attacks by political rivals on social media.

       He said the online war waged against Sabah Barisan-Umno has been intense.

       “But they (political rivals) forgot that they were once in the same party with us but they went chasing after fame and position for themselves instead of the people’s interest.

       “Hence, we must champion the rakyat’s issues. The people will surely not support a party that only talks a lot when issues such as basic infrastructure development are still unresolved,” he said.

       Bung Moktar added that their rivals might have the means to fund cyber troopers to constantly attack Umno but urged his members not to lose faith but to continue fending off the onslaught with facts.