KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional will not contest the coming state election on its own and is prepared to work with other parties if seat arrangements are agreeable, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

"Umno and Barisan are not likely to go solo, but we will ensure that we are always on a good platform, namely that we are prepared (in all aspects) of our machinery to face the election.

"This is because Umno wants to ensure that Barisan remains the dominant party (in any pact)," said the state Umno and Barisan chairman.

He said Sabah Umno has identified the seats to contest and would talk to other parties keen to forge a political alliance.

"People no longer look at who our friends are... they are looking at the party and candidate that can bring a wave of change to them," he told reporters after attending an Umno Zone 2 iftar event here on Sunday (March 16).

However, he declined to name the parties Sabah Umno was in talks with, merely saying that the party is on the right track to face the election.

"I just want to state that Umno will not (team with) a party that has betrayed us," he said.

Asked about the decision by Parti Warisan and Parti KDM to contest the coming state election on their own, he said: "We respect the decision of any party that wants to contest solo and they need to prove they are capable of going it alone... in an election, many things can happen."

Asked how many Sabah Barisan incumbents would be retained, he said no final decision had been reached.

"We have met regarding seat distribution, but discussions have yet to be finalised by the Barisan supreme council," he added.