Bung Moktar says BN, GRS still friends after ‘emotional’ accusation of betrayal
KOTA KINABALU, Nov 25 — Claiming that his emotions caused an earlier outburst during a tense situation, Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Bung Moktar Radin said that the state government led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is still intact.
Asked by reporters whether relations between GRS and BN were still tense after an earlier outburst during negotiations for a federal government, Bung said that it was going well despite reports in the media.
“So far there’s no friction. Whatever there is, it’s just raw emotions of how we felt at the time. Politics is like that, sometimes you have to throw something,” he said to reporters after attending the State Assembly sitting for the Budget here.
“If people want peace, we will be peaceful. But if reporters want war, we war,” he said to laughter from the reporters.
Bung made headlines on Monday by saying that Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had betrayed their pact by throwing GRS support behind Perikatan Nasional.
Bung claimed that Hajiji had “declared war” by reneging on their deal for GRS to support a BN candidate after the election.
Hajiji denied allegations and said the deal was moot when BN failed to win enough seats to name a prime minister candidate.
Also speaking to reporters, Hajiji said all was well between him and Bung, and they were now focused on the Budget and how to continue to boost the economy for the people’s sake.
“It seems good. We are now in the unity government together, so what is important now is that we focus on the economy to develop Sabah,” he said.
