Whoever leads the party’s election machinery for the Sabah State Election (PRN) is not important, said UMNO Deputy President, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

On the other hand, he said, the Barisan Nasional (BN) needs to be united because the priority is for the party to win.

In this regard, he urged all members to accept the decision made by the party leadership with an open heart.

"Everyone must understand that who is heading it (in the PRN) is not important. What’s important is that our party wants to win because when the party enters the election, our goal is to win the election.

"If you choose anyone, it is the same, because we have to understand that our priority is the party,” he told reporters after holding a friendly session with voters around Slim River town here today.

Commenting further, Mohamad or better known as Tok Mat who is also the State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Rantau said, BN faces a big challenge to take over Sabah from the government under the leadership of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan).

“To win in Sabah is not easy because we will face the existing government which has the advantage.

“The current government in Sabah, the Warisan government, will use all available strength to defend their government.

"We need to work hard to ensure that the people or voters would give us support," he said.

Earlier, UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said all parties should respect the party's decision to appoint Kinabatangan UMNO Division Head, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin as the party's chief of the election machinery for the Sabah PRN next month.