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News by the Jesselton Times, picked up by Borneo Herald, 27-5-2025
KOTA KINABALU: If the recent remarks made by GRS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai regarding the potential for the upcoming Sabah state election (PRN) to devolve into a “free-for-all” are any indication, the next PRN could be the battleground for a fierce competition among the participating parties.
Bangkuai suggested that such a free-for-all scenario might actually serve as a hidden advantage, as it would enable Sabahans to select between a coalition of local parties and those led by parties from Peninsular Malaysia.
Nevertheless, political analysts perceive the situation differently, contending that the contest will not simply be a straightforward battle between local and national parties, nor will it resemble a referendum.
They argue that there will be intense competition among local parties, specifically between the GRS and the Warisan and KDM parties.
In light of this, GRS must not convey to the people of Sabah that it is the sole local party capable of safeguarding or advocating for their interests.
This implies that the PRN will also provide an opportunity for local citizens to determine the representatives they wish to elect to the state legislative assembly.
Social activist and political analyst Dr Kanul Gindol believes that the upcoming PRN will be particularly captivating.
He noted that GRS will face significant hurdles in regaining power, as it must navigate challenges posed by local parties such as Warisan and KDM, in addition to those from Peninsular-based parties.
Dr Kanul said while Warisan and KDM are determined to go it alone separately, GRS, with eight component parties, are an undecided lot, with their leaders now caught between going it solo as local parties or siding with Malayan PH and BN.
“GRS is still undecided. BN and PH have announced they are ready to split 40-33 the 73 Sabah seats between BN and PH, respectively, if GRS is not riding on their ship.
“GRS are meeting in days time, but it appeared GRS are split between wanting just a local coalition for all 73 seats and tying with Malaya’s power, which also includes Upko. How many seats could they eventually settle with? is everyone’s guess for now,” he said.
“The most probable thing to happen in this situation is GRS to eat its humble pie by conceding many Sabah seats to Malaya’s bosses. Already Nurul Izzah, two days ago, declared PKR alone wants 13 Sabah state seats.
“I don’t think BN will settle for less. So are DAP, Upko and Amanah combined, and so are PBRS and MCA. Then, how many are left for GRS? 15 is absurd,” said Dr Kanul in an interview with the Jesselton Times here today.
Dr Kanul, however, cautions that while it is not yet a choice just between Sabah parties and Malaya’s, any clash between Warisan or KDM with GRS in the various seats may by default hand over victory to Malayan parties, the very side Sabahans wanted to kill.
For the record, the anti-Malayan party sentiment lately is boiling up again in Sabah that even Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi felt the heat and lambasted parties that played the “Sabah for Sabahans” slogan as ‘divisive’.
This sentiment is sweeping Sabah on the popularity of Sarawak GPS’s only local party stand, which has significantly reduced Malaya’s party to only two Sarawak DAP state seats from dozens before out of the total 82 seats.
Half of the top GRS leaders are with this sentiment; notoriously, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Tan Sri Pandikar Amin are said to favour all-Sabah parties to rule Sabah, like Sarawak.
Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor at one time appeared swayed by this; however, he is said to be undecided and seemed to have second thought about leaving out PH completely, even though he might be prepared to ditch Umno-led BN, his numero uno enemy in Sabah.
“But this, again, is a hard buy, as long as Umno’s Zahid is as solid as Mount Kinabalu in his deepening friendship with PM Datuk Anwar Ibrahim, to read, to keep the Madani Government of theirs,” Dr Kanul opined.
“It seems there is an agenda to deny Sabahans the chance to dominate the state political landscape again. Can PH and BN work their way and install their puppet CM in Sabah? This is the last thing Sabahans want, and they better wake up,” he added.
Dr Kanul said Sabah is really in need of a smart and diplomatic CM, someone many are searching for in the coming state election, which is due to be called anytime now. “After five years with heaps of unsettled problems, we are not looking to reinstall the same old regime.
“At the beginning, we may only see potentialities in our leaders, but after five years of bad experience, you cannot simply wait for potentialities forever; you have to have a good appraisal. Did they fail you? Are you satisfied? My advice is shape up or ship out,” added Dr Kanul.# ~Jesselton Times / Borneo Herald™
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