KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 -- Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin insisted that Sabah Umno still retains a degree of autonomy despite Barisan Nasional's (BN) central leadership assuming control over alliance decisions for the upcoming state elections.

The Sabah BN chairman reportedly explained that while BN's top leadership will decide on electoral pacts, Sabah Umno continues to have authority over candidate selection and strategic planning for the elections.

"[Sabah Umno's autonomy] is enshrined in Umno's constitution. It can't be done away with just like that. But people are interpreting [the national BN leadership's decision] in all sorts of ways," Bung Moktar was quoted saying by Free Malaysia Today.

"We were informed that the central leadershi...