By Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 12: Sabah and Sarawak could once again play the role of kingmakers in determining Malaysia’s next federal government should the 16th General Election (GE16) be called, with their stable bloc of parliamentary seats likely to prove decisive in shaping the country’s political future.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah highlighted this as he noted that the political landscape in Peninsular Malaysia appears increasingly uncertain, while Sabah and Sarawak remain relatively stable in terms of parliamentary representation, placing the two Bornean states in a strong position to influence the formation of the next federal administration.
“The beautiful part of it, Sabah and Sarawak will be the one to determine who ultimately will be helming Parliament or helming Malaysia because we are quite stable. Sabah and Sarawak have the numbers.
“So we will be the one to determine, the kingmaker, who is going to be the government of the day after the general election,” he told reporters after officiating the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Innovative and Creative Group (KIK) 2026 Awards Ceremony at a hotel here today.
Abdul Karim was responding to questions on whether the current political developments in Peninsular Malaysia could lead to an early general election.
He noted that while the timing of a parliamentary election rests solely with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it is possible that a general election could be held concurrently with the State election, given that multiple states have opted to dissolve their legislative assemblies.
“In my own personal observation, it can be held simultaneously, the general election and the Sarawak election. If there are many states that are going to dissolve themselves, then might as well we have both State and parliamentary elections and save a lot of costs,” he said.
On the possibility of changes in federal policies or funding should a new government take office, Abdul Karim expressed confidence that whoever forms the next administration would eventually adopt a more moderate approach once entrusted with governing the country.
“I think whoever is going to be helming Malaysia, they will come down to it. Even how extreme their outlook might be, the moment you are given that portfolio or the seat, you will tone down yourself,” he said.
He added that Sarawak does not foresee any significant disruptions to its own policies regardless of the outcome of a federal election, although he acknowledged there appears to be some uncertainty surrounding the political situation at the Peninsula level.
As for Sarawak’s own State election, Abdul Karim reiterated that the decision to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly lies solely with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg before the matter is referred to the Election Commission (EC) to determine polling dates. — DayakDaily
