Stronger BN will mean a weaker PH

Daily Express

18-05-2025

Published on: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Published on: Sun, May 18, 2025
By: Datuk Teddy Chin Text Size: HARDLY a week passes without something 'political' happening in Sabah. After all, politics is many Sabahans' cup of tea, including the soothsayers in the coffeeshops. Speaking in Sandakan at the party's Hari Raya celebrations late April, Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin warned that if the party continued to be belittled by GRS partners, and that if their demand for seats were not entertained, Usno may consider contesting on its own in the coming State election.
Advertisement This led to a reply by two divisional-level PGRS leaders who said that if Usno felt that it was belittled, it was free to leave GRS. PGRS deputy divisional chiefs for Bingkor, Rafie Robert and Kiulu, Datuk Datuk George Teo said unity among GRS components is important for victory in the coming State election. Interestingly, Rafie is the son of Datuk Robert Tawik who is Star deputy president and an Assistant Minister as well as Bingkor Assemblyman. 'But if you are dissatisfied….don't force yourself to stay….just leave. If your intention is no longer aligned with GRS, it's time to go. This coalition was not built to serve personal interests, but the rakyat's,' said Rafie. 'If you feel suffocated being in the coalition please leave and make yourself happy. No one will also stop Usno from contesting all 73 seats,' said Teo.
Advertisement For the record, Usno under the label Usno Baru contested 47 seats in 2020 and won none. Usno president Pandikar himself was defeated in his hometown Kota Belud where he began his political career in the early 1980s. Pandikar was reported to have said that 'Any questions as to why Usno might consider going solo in the election should be directed at GRS leaders. 'You should ask the Chief Minister, ask Jeffrey, ask Masidi, ask Yong Teck Lee,' he was reported to have said. The first to respond was Yong who defended Pandikar. He was followed by Jeffrey. One must understand the relationship between Pandikar, Yong and Jeffrey. The trio have been 'comrades-in-arms' since years ago when they were all in the opposition, i.e PBS. When Warisan was in power, the trio were united in the Opposition. Pandikar headed Usno, Yong Sapp and Jeffrey Star. Beginning with Kundasang years ago, the trio never missed and spoke at Sabah Day rally. When Warisan was in power, the trio attended a similar rally and spoke at Jeffrey's house in Kota Kinabalu. Their unifying factor was SAPP advisor, former Berjaya Minister Datuk Matnor Mansor. Then Warisan was defeated, New CM Hajiji launched the first official Sabah Day in Tambunan about two years ago. And together with National Day or Merdeka, it was declared a holiday, last year. Never mind the fact that there was no additional holiday. The trio's dream and what they had fought for all these years gained the State Government's recognition at last. So, for anybody to attack one of them, in this case Pandikar, it's just like 'Cubit Paha Kiri, Paha Kanan terasa juga' (If you pinch your left thigh, your right thigh will also feel the pain). For Jeffrey, no problem. His party has six seats which explains why he is DCM. For Yong and Pandikar it's a different story because their parties have no seats. Yong is a Nominated Assemblyman though. After Yong and Jeffrey's statement in defense of Pandikar, one would have thought it was 'case closed'. However, another grassroot level PGRS leader issued a statement. Sook Gagasan Rakyat chief Abi Wednes Gagamboi said if unity is the goal, then those who threatened to fracture the coalition must be called out – not younger leaders who are speaking up to defend it. 'Hence, it is ironic for Jeffrey and Yong to mention unity in GRS but not reprimand their long-time ally Pandikar,' he added. Then on May 8, 2025 the frontpage headline of Daily Express screamed: 'GRS is still one happy family: CM' complete with a picture of Hajiji hugging Pandikar and Jeffrey together with Yong. That closes the chapter, at least for now. I suppose directives have meantime gone out to all grassroot leaders to make no more statements. Two days later, Kuala Lumpur dropped a bombshell saying that Pakatan Harapan (PH) led by PM Anwar and Barisan Nasional (BN) led by DPM Ahmad Zahid had reached a deal to work together to face the Sabah election. There was no mention of GRS, nor Warisan or KDM. The very next day, GRS chairman and Sabah CM Hajiji issued a statement saying if that was the case, then GRS might consider going solo in the election. GRS is part of the Federal Unity Government whereby it has a full Minister and a Deputy Minister plus a few more MPs. PH is also part of the State Government with its components PKR and DAP having a Minister and an Assistant Minister each. BN, however, is Opposition at the State level. They used to be part of the State government but two years ago their Sabah branch leaders staged a coup which failed to unseat Hajiji and his government. With that kind of a background, what do you expect? What do you take Sabahans for? Stupid fools? Enough of this 'big brother' thing which Sabahans were subjected to for decades. Hajiji's statement must have taken KL off-guard and instantly component parties of GRS, for that matter Sabahans at large, gave their blessings for GRS to go solo. Instantly, Sabahans were united. The very next day, PM Anwar flew into Tawau to officiate a function. He explained to reporters that the KL statement was issued based on the understanding between PH and BN only. On the part involving GRS, he would talk to Hajiji once he is in Sabah. Whether this is true or not, only Anwar knows. He did say that he could only speak on behalf of PH, but it depends on Hajiji on his reception of BN, adding that Hajiji seemed positive to the suggestion. Hajiji in his reaction said he had to refer the matter to the GRS council as he could not make the decision alone. Good answer. After all, GRS is a coalition of 8 parties and for Hajiji to commit anything without consulting them would be disaster. Another thing, in Tawau Anwar never said should the PKR-BN-GRS win the election, who would be CM? Renowned Sabah political writer Selvaraja Somiah described Anwar's non-disclosure as 'evasive'. Another writer, CC, described Anwar as 'suspiciously vague'. To be fair, however, I would give Anwar the benefit of the doubt. He twice defended Hajiji's Chief Ministership and I have no reason to believe that he would not for a third time. Let's say that he has his own agenda this time around. The logical thing to do is to pick a CM from within his own PH. When I say PH it's not necessary PKR or DAP. Don't forget PH now has a Sabah-based party, UPKO. In the event that GRS really goes it alone, then my bet is Anwar will choose someone from Upko to be the CM. By doing so, it counters the 'Sabah for Sabahans' slogan of GRS or to be exact Jeffrey. Because Upko is also a local party, so GRS cannot say that local parties are being sidelined. What added to my suspicion, apart from Anwar's silence in Tawau, is a recent joint-statement by Upko and PBRS to ask that they be the 'bridge' with KL. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out what that means. I mean, GRS is officially still a part of the Federal Madani Government and has not even made a decision on Anwar's offer to GRS to work with BN. What's the hurry? Can't wait? If GRS' final decision is not to work with BN, then the Upko-PBRS statement is justified. But a decision has not even been reached. You don't do that to your existing coalition partners. Even if a decision has been reached and GRS is to go it alone, the new CM oes not necessarily come from Upko or PBRS bah. It can come from PKR and DAP bah as long as they are Sabahans. PKR's Christine Liew has gained enough experience to be CM, having been a DCM and MP before. DAP's Ginger Phoong is also CM material. I don't think Anwar would want someone from BN to be the CM for the simple reason that strengthening BN would weaken his own PH. If he wanted Umno to lead the statement, he would have sided them when they almost unseated Hajiji two years ago. Instead, he gave his blessings for his PH Assemblymen to be part of the Hajiji-led State Government. I just don't see how GRS can work with BN. Even before GRS say yes to 'marriage', Umno president Ahmad Zahid already talked big. First, he said Umno must get back all the seats that it won in 2020. Second, he said the 'Sabah for Sabahans' slogan is not suitable and is divisive. A leopard never changes its skin. He is still behaving like the old days when Umno was king and Sabahans had to listen to them. He forgot that Sabahans already threw out Umno in 2018. Old habits die hard. Umno is still behaving like a 'Big Brother' to Sabahans and that we must listen to or obey them. Well, Sabahans, the ball is at your feet now. In conclusion, talk much also no use. Cakap banyak tiada guna. Coalition or no coalition. PH or BN or GRS, whichever party wins the most seats, they will get the CMship. If GRS were to agree to the merger, will they still get the majority seats that they are enjoying now? Politics is the art of the possible. If GRS is pushed to the wall, what is there to stop from forming a coalition with Warisan or KDM? Then it will become Sabah for local parties just like Sarawak. Afterall, PM's offer was only for GRS. There was no mention of Warisan or KDM. In politics, there are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends. Who had expected PH to be part of the present State Government? Happy voting. The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]