By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, Dec 1: The recent political developments and election results in Sabah clearly show that Peninsular Malaysia-based parties are no longer needed in Borneo, says Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
Speaking to reporters when asked to compare Sarawak’s political climate ahead of its State election next year with the recently concluded Sabah polls, Sagah emphasised the fundamental differences between the two states.
“We (Sarawak) are different from Sabah. We Sarawakians are Sarawakians. Sabahans have their own methods,” he said after witnessing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange between the Sarawak government, Pertubuhan Aspirasi Guru Sarawak and Arc Technologies Sdn Bhd at Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) Complex today.
Sagah, who is also Tarat assemblyman, noted that campaign messaging in Sabah—particularly the “Sabah for Sabahans” slogan—reflected a strong push for local political autonomy.
“What I believe happened was due to the desire of the Sabahans themselves. We heard a lot during their campaign that they focused on ‘Sabah for Sabahans’,” he added.
Sagah believes that the outcome of the Sabah election sends a clear signal for Borneo’s future political landscape.
“We have one left, the DAP (Democratic Action Party). We see it clearly, but the people need to see it clearly too. It’s up to the rakyat (people) to understand what’s happening,” he concluded.
The 17th Sabah Election on Nov 29, 2025 delivered a strong verdict against Peninsular-based parties. Local coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) won big, riding on Sabah-centric sentiments.
In contrast, long-standing coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) was reduced to just six seats, while the Democratic Action Party (DAP), contesting under Pakatan Harapan (PH), was wiped out, losing all the seats it contested. — DayakDaily
