Malaysia's coalitions clash with own allies ahead of Sabah election

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's Sabah chief Hajiji Noor (fourth from left), Umno's Sabah chief Bung Moktar Radin (fifth from left) and Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin (sixth from left) at what was originally an event yesterday to announce
Outgoing Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal (seventh from left) with candidates from his Warisan Plus pact for the Sabah state election at Sabah International Convention Centre yesterday. The pact announced 66 candidates – minus those whom opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat is supposed to field. PHOTOS: BERNAMA
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Parties allied to Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday openly clashed with their own allies over the 73 seats at stake in the Sabah state polls, exposing internal rivalries just two days before nominations.

They abandoned a joint event to announce their candidates yesterday as they clashed over who should be chief minister if they won the Sept 26 vote. The event was instead renamed a gathering of leaders.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 11, 2020, with the headline Malaysia's coalitions clash with own allies ahead of Sabah election. Subscribe