Kota kinabalu: It is still too early for Barisan Nasional (BN) to determine any political coalition cooperation if the party fails to win a simple majority in the 17th Sabah State Election, said UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. He mentioned that any decision on a coalition government will only be known after the polls on November 29.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari addressed a press conference during his visit to the EcoCeres Plant at Tanjung Langsat Port. He was responding to questions on whether BN would join forces with other parties if it fails to form the Sabah state government independently. BN is contesting in 45 of the 73 seats available, with 81 percent of candidates being new faces, including nearly half from professional and youth groups. The polling is set for November 29, with early voting scheduled for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Johari was also questioned about the potential for BN to retain power in Johor, where he asserted that the state has been well managed under the party’s leadership. He highlighted that political stability and consistent policies have attracted investors, making Johor a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Johor has seen rapid growth, particularly in data center development, and previously attracted RM800 million in investment from a US-based equipment supply company.

He emphasized that the administration in Johor has drawn many investors because they view the state as stable with consistent policies, thus deserving of support. In the 2022 Johor State Election, BN secured a two-thirds majority by winning 40 out of the 56 seats contested.