By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 13: Sabah is heading for one of its most unpredictable State elections, with splintered alliances, restless voters and growing resentment against Malaya-linked parties shaking the political order, says political pundit Dato Peter Minos.
He noted that while the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) remains confident as the incumbent coalition, its standing has been weakened by a series of scandals, public frustration over poor infrastructure and the perception of ineffective governance.
“The recent floodings and deadly landslides, roads with potholes, the uncompleted Pan Borneo Highway, and long water and electricity breakdowns are not favourable to GRS.
“Not to forget the many juicy scandals. All these give many Sabahans a second thought and are asking—is GRS competent and effective enough to run Sabah again? I was in Sabah recently for a while and I heard them all,” he said in a statement today.
Minos also observed that Sabah United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) continues to grapple with the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment, as many locals grow weary of Peninsular interference and call for greater political autonomy.
Despite that, he said UMNO’s deep pockets remain a major force in Sabah politics.
“But maybe this round it will not be so easy to dismiss the ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ issue with money. We have to wait and see,” he remarked.
At the same time, Minos said the exits of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) from GRS to contest independently have further complicated the electoral landscape.
“By jumping ship, STAR has created internal problems but the party seems unbothered,” he said.
He added that Democratic Action Party (DAP), like other Malaya-based parties such as UMNO and Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), faces an uphill battle as voters increasingly view them as outsiders.
“Many see these Malaya-based parties as only serving their leaders and interests from the Peninsula,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said Parti Warisan (Warisan) appears to be quietly regaining traction among voters who see it as clean, local and untainted by Malaya’s influence.
“It ruled Sabah once. Maybe they may be given a chance once again. If Warisan can win some Kadazan and Dusun seats and some urban Chinese seats, it will be returned to run Sabah—and a happy time for Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Warisan president),” he noted.
However, he stressed that predictions are difficult because money politics and party-hopping are still part of Sabah’s political culture.
“As said, money works in Sabah. So anything goes in Sabah because of money. Who really cares of principles or party loyalty in Sabah,” he remarked.
He said Sarawakians want to see Sabahans strong and united like Sarawak.
“Because Sabah is our neighbour and because we want Sabahans to be strong and united like Sarawak, we can wish the voters to think clearly and wisely for Sabah—for the good of Sabah,” he said. — DayakDaily
