Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi has asserted that the upcoming Sabah state election will mark the beginning of the end for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the state, attributing its decline to the party’s origins in political defection and betrayal.
In a Facebook post, Puad said Bersatu is now facing the inevitable consequences of its formation.
“The Sabah election will signal the start of Bersatu’s downfall in the state. Its political vessel is shrinking by the day — a direct result of being a party born out of deception,” he wrote.
His remarks came in response to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s recent speech during a party roadshow in Sabah, where the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman accused Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Hajiji Noor of “blatantly lying” to him.
Muhyiddin claimed that PN had rejected any form of political cooperation with GRS for the upcoming state polls, following what he described as a betrayal when GRS leaders, who were formerly Bersatu members, exited the party in November 2022 after the 15th General Election (GE15).
However, Puad countered that Muhyiddin had no grounds to express outrage, pointing out that Bersatu itself was founded through mass defections from Umno — including nine state assemblymen, four Members of Parliament, two senators, and 21 division leaders.
“So why act surprised when Bersatu’s own leaders eventually left to form GRS?” he questioned.
According to Puad, Bersatu began to lose its political footing in Sabah when Hajiji started to chart his own political course.
“Since then, Bersatu has been left adrift — lacking grassroots support, influential local leaders, and strong organisational structure,” he said.
In contrast, Puad highlighted Sabah Umno’s establishment as a party with firm foundations. He recalled that in 1991, then-United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) president Tun Mustapha Datu Harun — along with his deputies, vice-presidents, 48 division leaders, and over 50,000 members — submitted membership applications to join Umno.
“The late Tun Mustapha famously said, ‘We are moving from a small boat to a big ship,’” Puad recalled, adding that Sabah Umno’s legitimacy was affirmed when Mustapha won the Usukan by-election in May 1991.
As for the upcoming state election, which must be held by November when the current term expires, Perikatan Nasional is expected to contest at least 18 out of the 73 state assembly seats. This was confirmed by PN deputy chairman Hamzah Zainudin in January.
Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man announced in May that PAS will field candidates in at least six seats under the PN ticket.
