Salleh: Power must be shared, not controlled in Sabah politics
KOTA KINABALU (June 15): Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has issued a strong reminder to political coalitions in the state: power must be shared fairly, not dominated by a single party.
In a statement that underscores the importance of equality and mutual respect among coalition partners, Salleh said no party should act like it is the 'boss' of a coalition.
'In today's politics, no party should act like it's the boss of a coalition. Every party brings its own strength and deserves to be treated as an equal partner,' the Usukan assemblyman said on his Facebook page on Sunday.
The Umno Sabah treasurer stressed that successful coalitions are built on shared leadership, collective responsibility, and fair representation not unilateral control.
'A good coalition is built on shared leadership and fair power-sharing — not control by one dominant party.
All decisions, responsibilities and representation must be discussed and agreed together,' Salleh said.
According to him, what matters most is having a common agenda that all partners support, particularly when it comes to development, good governance and defending Sabah's rights.
While he acknowledged the importance of fairly representing Sabah's major communities, Bumiputera Muslim, non-Muslim Bumiputera, and non-Bumiputera, Salleh said that representation alone is not enough without real power-sharing among parties.
'Fair representation of Sabah's main communities is important, but that alone is not enough. Power must also be shared fairly among all coalition partners. Every party must have a real role and a fair say in shaping decisions,' he added.
Salleh pointed out that Sabah's political strength lies in its diversity, and a stable coalition must reflect this reality.
'A strong coalition must reflect Sabah's diversity. Every group deserves a voice and a place at the table,' he said.
He also emphasised that true stability comes from trust, fairness and inclusion.
'Stability comes from trust and fairness. When everyone feels respected and involved, the coalition becomes stronger and more united,' Salleh said.
Calling for a shift in political mindset, he urged parties in Sabah to move away from outdated models of control and towards genuine teamwork.
'It's time to move beyond old ways of thinking. Sabah needs a coalition that works as a team, not one party calling all the shots while others are expected to just follow,' he said.
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