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Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
One test down for Hajiji but another on the horizon, says analyst
Universiti Malaysia Sabah analyst Bilcher Bala said each party in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah will have its own aspirations and demands. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : While Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Hajiji Noor has passed one test on managing tensions among the coalition's components over their standing in the upcoming state polls, more challenges await, an analyst says. Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said the ability to manage a tense situation hinged on several factors including charisma, communication skills, and the ability to instil confidence. 'Developing trust and loyalty (among the components) is also vital,' he told FMT. However, he said Hajiji would still have to face the 'complicated' seat negotiations process which would require the eight components to agree on the 73 state seats up for grabs. This would be more so if GRS joined forces with Pakatan Harapan or Barisan Nasional (BN), he added. GRS comprises Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), the Sabah Progressive Party, Usno, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, the Liberal Democratic Party, and Parti Cinta Sabah. 'Each party will have its own aspirations and demands, so Hajiji will have to ensure a fair and strategic distribution to avoid discontent which could threaten unity in the coalition,' Bilcher said. Yesterday, Hajiji announced that the GRS component parties had pledged their collective commitment to winning the next Sabah election for the state ruling coalition. Hajiji, the Sabah chief minister, said he appreciated the trust shown by the party leaders during the three-hour meeting. The meeting followed remarks by GRS deputy chief Jeffrey Kitingan, who said on Monday that the coalition must improve the way it operates. This was after Usno president Pandikar Amin Mulia said his party had been ignored by some GRS leaders after demanding seats to contest in the state polls. Kitingan, the STAR president, said every GRS component party had the right to be treated with respect, whether or not they held seats in the state assembly. He also proposed that GRS's Supreme Council hold regular meetings to address Pandikar's concerns. Fellow UMS analyst Romzi Ationg however said that the spat was only the beginning of GRS's problems. 'Media reports make it seem like all is well, but for me, it is just the beginning,' he said. 'What if Hajiji is forced to work with parties that are disliked by the other components?' He added that several GRS components were eyeing state seats, including that of Bengkoka which was won by BN in the last state election, and Bandau, which is currently represented by Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat.
Daily Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
One test down for Hajiji but another on the horizon, says analyst
Published on: Friday, May 09, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 09, 2025 By: Nora Mahpar, FMT Text Size: Universiti Malaysia Sabah analyst Bilcher Bala said each party in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah will have its own aspirations and demands. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: While Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Hajiji Noor has passed one test on managing tensions among the coalition's components over their standing in the upcoming state polls, more challenges await, an analyst says. Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said the ability to manage a tense situation hinged on several factors including charisma, communication skills, and the ability to instil confidence. 'Developing trust and loyalty (among the components) is also vital,' he told FMT. However, he said Hajiji would still have to face the 'complicated' seat negotiations process which would require the eight components to agree on the 73 state seats up for grabs. This would be more so if GRS joined forces with Pakatan Harapan or Barisan Nasional (BN), he added. GRS comprises Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), the Sabah Progressive Party, Usno, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, the Liberal Democratic Party, and Parti Cinta Sabah. 'Each party will have its own aspirations and demands, so Hajiji will have to ensure a fair and strategic distribution to avoid discontent which could threaten unity in the coalition,' Bilcher said. Yesterday, Hajiji announced that the GRS component parties had pledged their collective commitment to winning the next Sabah election for the state ruling coalition. Hajiji, the Sabah chief minister, said he appreciated the trust shown by the party leaders during the three-hour meeting. The meeting followed remarks by GRS deputy chief Jeffrey Kitingan, who said on Monday that the coalition must improve the way it operates. This was after Usno president Pandikar Amin Mulia said his party had been ignored by some GRS leaders after demanding seats to contest in the state polls. Kitingan, the STAR president, said every GRS component party had the right to be treated with respect, whether or not they held seats in the state assembly. He also proposed that GRS's Supreme Council hold regular meetings to address Pandikar's concerns. Fellow UMS analyst Romzi Ationg however said that the spat was only the beginning of GRS's problems. 'Media reports make it seem like all is well, but for me, it is just the beginning,' he said. 'What if Hajiji is forced to work with parties that are disliked by the other components?' He added that several GRS components were eyeing state seats, including that of Bengkoka which was won by BN in the last state election, and Bandau, which is currently represented by Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Different configuration in Sabah won't affect govt's cohesion, say analysts
GRS and PH form the backbone of the state government in Sabah, while BN and Warisan sit in the opposition. PETALING JAYA : The unity government's cohesion will not be affected even if the political configuration of the next Sabah government does not align with that of the federal administration, say analysts. Universiti Malaya's Awang Azman Pawi and Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said the present federal government has been able to function well even though Barisan Nasional and Warisan sit as the opposition in the Sabah legislative assembly. This is due to Sabah's distinct political landscape which is dominated by local parties. Bilcher said Sabah's dynamic political environment makes it necessary for parties in the unity government to take a more flexible approach to the formation of the state government given the local realities. Bilcher Bala. 'The alliances at the state and federal levels are capable of functioning separately without one affecting the other. 'BN and Warisan are in the opposition in the Sabah assembly but are still working together with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Pakatan Harapan at the federal level,' he told FMT. He said the country has no 'one-size-fits-all' model that can be applied to Sabah. Awang Azman agreed, saying the difference in political setups at the federal and state levels can still be managed through mutual understanding and respect within the unity government. Awang Azman Pawi. He said Sabah's complex political landscape has led to frequent changes in the state administration, with political lines being drawn according to regions, ethnicities, parties and even personalities. 'Therefore, forcing the federal model of cooperation on Sabah without taking into account the local context can actually disrupt the state's political stability and result in the neglect of Sabahans' needs and aspirations,' said Awang Azman. Last week, GRS deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali said Sabah should not be forced to replicate the federal government's unity model in its upcoming state election. Armizan said a memorandum of understanding signed by five political coalitions and parties in December 2022 pertained solely to cooperation in forming the federal government and did not extend to state administrations. Both GRS and BN are courting PH for an alliance in the upcoming Sabah state election, which must be held by the end of the year.
