00:00Analysts see the recent denial by Barsan National Chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of factions in his coalition as an attempt to project an image of unity and stability ahead of the Sabah state election.
00:14The end, especially Sabah UMNO, has long been seen as split between two camps, one aligned with Bung Mukhtar Radin and the other with Bung's deputy, Abdurrahman Dahlan.
00:25Analysts Bilshir Bala and Shahruddin Awang Ahmad of University Malaysia Sabah said Zahid's dismissal of such claims demonstrated a calm and strategic approach by the party leadership to managing internal perceptions and external narratives.
00:41Bilshir added that this shows UMNO's unity, maturity and focus on people over factions ahead of the state polls.
00:48Meanwhile, Shahruddin said that as the coalition leader, Zahid is seen as trying to reassure supporters of Bung Mukhtar and Rahman as well as the grassroots that everyone is on the same team and not swayed by the emotions of certain factions within the party.
01:03At the launch of the BN election machinery in Supangar, Kota Kinabalu, Zahid said there are no more factions in Sabah UMNO and BN admitting that past losses were partly due to internal disputes.
