GRS's 52-seat bid risks straining ties with national party allies, says analyst
An analyst said a proposal for GRS to contest 52 out of 73 seats in the upcoming state polls could spark dissatisfaction among national party allies. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : An analyst has cautioned that the call for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to contest 52 out of 73 seats in the upcoming state election risks stirring discontent among its potential allies from national parties.
Syahruddin Awang Ahmad of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said parties like Umno, which had a strong historical presence in Sabah, would see this as an attempt by GRS to 'take over' their seats.
He added that GRS's proposal would have significant political implications on cooperation with Sabah's ruling coalition ahead of the state polls.
'An unfair seat distribution, or one that doesn't reflect the actual strength of each party, will have consequences,' he said.
Lee Kuok Tiung, also of UMS, said three-cornered or multi-party contests would be unavoidable, even if GRS cooperates with national parties ahead of the state election.
'Overlapping areas are difficult to avoid,' he said.
Last Sunday, GRS vice-president Masiung Banah said GRS was expected to field candidates in at least 52 out of the 73 state constituencies at the next state polls.
He said the remaining 21 seats would be allocated to national parties that agreed to cooperate with GRS.
GRS and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are currently allies in the Sabah state administration while the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) sits in the opposition.
PH and BN have announced an alliance for the state polls, while talks are ongoing to include GRS in the pact.
On Sunday, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar expressed hope that her party would be able to contest a minimum of 13 seats in the Sabah election.
The following day, Sabah DAP deputy chief Chan Foong Hin said the state chapter was eyeing at least 10 seats in the state polls.
Sabah Umno had said it hoped to contest 40 seats in the 17th state election.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
32 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Fahmi Reza says stopped at KLIA2, denied exit from Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — Graphic artist and political activist Fahmi Reza said he was stopped from boarding a flight to Singapore today after being informed he was blacklisted from travelling overseas — the second such travel restriction imposed on him in just over two weeks. In a statement posted on his social media, Fahmi recounted arriving at KLIA2 at around 7.30am to catch a 9.35am flight for a short two-day trip to attend a concert featuring South Korean band Slant and Singaporean act Sial. But at the international departure counter, immigration officers told him he had been flagged and needed to wait at their office. 'I was asked to wait while they checked with TCO (Travel Control Office/Order). Then they took my passport and IC for photocopying. They also wanted printed copies of my boarding pass and e-ticket, even though I had them on my phone,' he wrote, adding that with only 10 minutes left before boarding, an airport staff member helped him get the documents printed at Sama-Sama Express Hotel. When he returned to immigration with the documents, Fahmi said an officer told him, 'Bukit Aman has not given clearance for you to leave the country.' He said no explanation was provided and he was escorted out of the departure area. Fahmi is well known for his satirical illustrations that often critique political leaders and institutions. He believes the ban is linked to his artwork criticising the recent appointment of former Sabah chief minister Tun Musa Aman as the state's new Yang di-Pertua Negeri. Just weeks earlier, on May 29, the Sabah immigration department had denied Fahmi entry into the state under Section 65(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. He said he was flown back to Kuala Lumpur the same day without further explanation. That incident followed his earlier arrest by Sabah police in February this year over another satirical post. Authorities had opened investigations under the Sedition Act for allegedly insulting the royal institution. 'Last week I was blacklisted from entering Sabah. This week, I'm blacklisted from leaving the country,' he wrote. 'My only 'offence' was creating critical artwork.'
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Singapore watching US tariff talks ‘very carefully', says foreign minister
SINGAPORE, June 7 — The United States' evolving tariff regime remains in flux and it will take time before the full picture becomes clear, said Singapore's Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, following a five-day official visit to Washington. Speaking to The Straits Times, among other Singapore media, via Zoom today, Dr Balakrishnan said ongoing revisions, legal challenges and a likely series of bilateral negotiations with different trade partners mean the eventual shape of American tariffs is still being worked out. His meetings with senior US officials, senators and members of Congress revealed bipartisan agreement in the US on the importance of trade, investment, intellectual property, reliability, and secure supply chains. 'The relationship with the United States is a vital, critical one for Singapore — it spans the entire gamut... the economy, defence, security, and we're also pursuing emerging opportunities in areas like cyber security and energy,' he reportedly said. 'So it's a relationship which needs to be tended to, and attended to carefully.' Singapore and the US reaffirmed their strong bilateral ties during his visit, said Dr Balakrishnan, with both sides committed to deeper cooperation in areas such as defence and critical technologies, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A key topic during discussions was the impact of US tariffs on global trade, especially for small, open economies like Singapore. 'Any impact on global trade, any friction in the system, will have an impact on an open economy like ours, where our trading volume is three times our GDP,' he reportedly said. Dr Balakrishnan noted the US has a trade surplus with Singapore and should not impose even the baseline 10 per cent tariff. He said sector-specific duties were more concerning and would be closely scrutinised. 'We're still in the early stages of our discussions and negotiations, so let's watch this space,' he added. His visit came as the US trade outlook remains uncertain. President Donald Trump's wide-ranging 'Liberation Day' tariffs, unveiled on April 2, have been paused for 90 days, but on June 4, he signed an order doubling tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Singapore's manufacturing sector has already been feeling the strain. On June 2, purchasing managers' index figures showed a second straight month of contraction in factory activity, reflecting the drag from trade instability. Dr Balakrishnan also noted signs of openness from Washington. In May, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said early talks were under way about ensuring semiconductor supply and potentially zero tariffs on pharmaceutical exports. Asked about challenges in engaging US officials, Dr Balakrishnan said: 'They were very welcoming, courteous... I have no anxiety on that front.' But he warned the global order that underpinned Singapore's success — based on free trade and capital flows — is shifting. 'The anxiety is that the world order that had prevailed for 80 years... is clearly changing, and this period of transition is the time of greatest danger.' Singapore must stay alert and ready to adapt quickly, he said. 'It is also important to interact frequently, candidly, openly and constructively with our interlocutors, and especially with a superpower which is of great strategic importance to us,' he added. Before Washington, Dr Balakrishnan visited London, where he met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy to discuss economic ties, strategic issues and potential cooperation.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Asean leaders to deliberate Pakistan's bid for full dialogue partner status, says Anwar
PUTRAJAYA, June 7 — Pakistan's bid to become a full dialogue partner with Asean will be discussed with leaders of the regional grouping, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'It will be brought up for discussion at the Asean leaders' conference,' he told reporters briefly after performing the Aidiladha prayers at the Putra Mosque here today. He said this when asked to comment on Pakistan's renewed efforts to elevate its partnership status with Asean. Yesterday, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah reportedly said that Islamabad is renewing its push to become a full dialogue partner, reflecting the country's commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and deepening engagement with the bloc. Pakistan, which became Asean's first sectoral dialogue partner in 1993, has consistently valued its cooperation with the regional grouping and aims to further expand those ties. In October last year, Anwar was quoted as saying that Malaysia fully supported Pakistan's efforts to become a full dialogue partner of Asean. Meanwhile, when asked about Pakistan welcoming his offer to mediate in the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, Anwar said Malaysia only hopes for a peaceful resolution. 'I have no role to play, I'm simply offering my opinion,' he said. Earlier, Anwar and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, performed the Aidiladha prayers alongside nearly 15,000 congregants at the Putra Mosque. Anwar, dressed in a light blue baju Melayu, arrived at 7.50 am and was greeted by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan. The Prime Minister also joined the congregation reciting the takbir raya before performing the Aidiladha prayers, led by the Grand Imam of the Putra Mosque Dr Muhamad Zakuwa Rodzali. He then listened to the Aidiladha sermon titled 'Korban dan Semangat Kebersamaan', which emphasised the importance of intention, proper conduct, and sincerity in performing the sacrificial ritual. Before departing, Anwar took time to mingle and shake hands with members of the congregation. — Bernama
