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Focus Malaysia
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Strong point of Sabah opposition: Puff, posturing and political pantomime
IN the noisy arena of Sabah politics, the opposition has perfected one act: endless barking. The ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) can announce new roads, clean water or investment wins but even before the microphones are switched off, the usual suspects are already foaming at the mouth. Take the recent IBR ASEAN Awards. Sabah was named Malaysia's Most Outstanding State Government. Not some consolation prize but a prestigious recognition of leadership, governance, and delivery. A moment to be proud of. But opposition figures prefer to turn a blind eye to such a startling achievement. Ignoring real achievements That's because delivery isn't their strong suit. Drama is. Recently, the state government tabled its Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 report card in the state assembly. It showed 94% of planned initiatives already completed – 366 out of 467. These include rural water supply upgrades, tourism development, dialysis access, agricultural incentives and conservation efforts. But opposition leader Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal interrupted half-way through the reply, asking for it in writing. Was the list too long for Shafie's attention span? No ideas, just noise This reflects the opposition's entire playbook: don't read, don't build, don't propose – just protest. They oppose supplementary budgets. They cry about the cost of living but never suggest how they'd grow revenue. They keep badgering the Sabah state government to demand more under MA63 (the Malaysia Agreement 1963) such as more oil royalties for the state yet offer no clear ideas on how to turn those demands into reality. Ask them for a manifesto and one would probably be better off explaining Squid Game (South Korean dystopian survival thriller drama television series) to a household cockroach. Ask them for a structured plan to improve livelihoods, and they'd rattle off something that looks like it was stitched together by an unpaid intern who thought policy had something to do with cops. These are not leaders. They are full-time hecklers with part-time interest in policy. Proof in numbers GRS, in contrast, has kept revenue climbing, from RM3.6 bil in 2020 to RM6.84 bil in 2024. Sabah's trade volume breached RM100 bil with investments continuing to flow. These aren't just numbers, they are outcomes. But the opposition doesn't see outcomes. Only optics. When they cannot achieve something, they try to discredit it. It's the only game they know. They claim to represent 'the people'. Yet all they represent is the politics of noise. Where is their blueprint? Their energy goes into slander, scandal and headline-chasing. This is not checks and balances. This is just grandstanding for political mileage. If Sabah is to move forward, voters will need to decide: more chaos from career critics or continued work from those who actually show up. The opposition can bark. But voters must not mistake noise for results. – July 16, 2025 Main image credit: UMNO
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah at a crossroads over next state polls
KOTA KINABALU: Political watchers are weighing in on the possibility of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor dissolving the state assembly within days after his Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat)'s three-day congress beginning July 25. With only four months until the automatic dissolution on Nov 11, some analysts speculate that Hajiji is likely to call for it before National Day though some within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are keen for elections to take place after Malaysia Day. It remains unclear whether Hajiji will call for a GRS supreme council meeting immediately after his party congress to discuss dates for a dissolution. A leader with GRS indicated that there was no scheduled GRS supreme council meeting or any planned convention among parties so far this month. But they expect Hajiji to have a clear mandate from his party on its alliances and preferred dissolution dates after his party congress. Some members within the eight-party grouping prefer having the state assembly go into a full term so that they could capitalise on Sabah Day, which marks the state's independence from British colonial rule on on Aug 31, 1963. They have indicated that celebrating Sabah Day on Aug 31 would boost the coalition's push for state autonomy, in line with the groundswell for state's rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963, the basis of Sabah joining the federation. Though many feel it makes little difference, some leaders are of the view that celebrating Sabah Day before the election would be a boost and help create a feel-good sentiment for GRS, which had been caught in issues related to graft allegations and delayed infrastructure deliveries. On his part, Hajiji had said that he would get the consensus of GRS leaders before approaching Governor Tun Musa Aman for the dissolution of the assembly. Political analyst Prof Dr Romzi Ationg, a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, believed Hajiji would likely seek the dissolution of the assembly within days after the Gagasan Rakyat congress. 'I don't think Hajiji will wait any longer. 'I believe the Chief Minister needs to weigh in on the views of some of his federal counterparts who want to see an election held sooner. 'But many are hoping that GRS will opt for a full term as they are in a dire need to solve or at least minimise problems such as water shortage and electricity issues,' Romzi said. Sabah's last election was held on Sept 26, 2020. State assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya has explained previously that the automatic dissolution will take place on Nov 11, if the assembly is not dissolved before that. He said the five-year term of the 16th Sabah assembly is calculated from the date of its first sitting on Nov 12, 2020.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah assembly could dissolve within days of Gagasan Rakyat congress, says analysts
KOTA KINABALU: Political watchers are weighing in on the possibility of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor dissolving the state assembly within days after his Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) three-day congress from July 25-27. With only four months to the automatic dissolution on Nov 11, some analysts speculate that Hajiji is likely to call for it before National Day (Aug 31), though some within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are keen for elections to take place after Malaysia Day (Sept 16). However, it is still not clear if Hajiji will call for a GRS supreme council meeting immediately after his party's congress to discuss dates for dissolution. A GRS leader indicated that there was no scheduled GRS supreme council meeting or any planned convention among parties scheduled for this month so far. But, they expect Hajiji to have a clear mandate from his party on its alliances and preferred dissolution dates after his party's congress. Some members within the eight-party GRS prefer going it the full term as they could capitalise on Sabah Day, which is the celebration of the state's independence from British colonial rule on Aug 31, 1963. They have indicated celebrating Sabah Day would boost the local coalition's push for state autonomy in line with the growing groundswell for state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the basis of Sabah joining the federation. Though many feel that it makes little difference, some leaders think that celebrating Sabah Day before the election would be a booster and help create a feel-good mood for GRS caught in delayed infrastructure deliveries and graft issues. Hajiji, himself, has said that he will get the consensus of GRS leaders before advising the Governor Tun Musa Aman on the dissolution of the assembly. Political analyst Prof Dr Romzi Ationg, a senior lecturer of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), believes that Hajiji was likely to seek the dissolution of the assembly within days after the Gagasan Rakyat congress. "I don't think Hajiji will wait longer, I believe the Chief Minister needs to weigh in on the views of some of his federal counterparts who want to see an election held sooner. "But many are hoping GRS opts for a full term as they are in a dire need to, at least, minimise, if not, solve many problems such as water shortages, electricity issues etc. "Despite that, many are of the opinion that Hajiji will likely dissolve the current assembly after the Gagasan Rakyat congress," he said, explaining that holding the 17th state election in September or October could be considered going a full term as the 16th state election was held on Sept 26, 2020. Gagasan Rakyat, a Muslim native based multiracial party, with its 26 state seats, is the anchor party of GRS, while non-Muslim based Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) with seven seats and Sabah STAR with six seats are the major partners of GRS. GRS holds 42 seats in the 79-seat (including six nominated seats) state assembly. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) have one seat each, while other GRS component partners without a seat are the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Usno. GRS is currently in coalition with Sabah Pakatan Harapan, who hold seven state seats. GRS is ready to continue to work with Sabah Pakatan in an electoral pact for the election, but most of its components insist that GRS should be the dominant partner in line with the state's autonomous rights. Sabah Barisan, which broke away from the GRS government in January 2023, is forging a coalition with Sabah Pakatan in line with the political framework of the federal unity government. Both GRS and Barisan have refused to work with each other.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Bung rules out election talks with GRS
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 Text Size: 'So I do not care about this GRS,' said Bung. KINABATANGAN: Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin reiterated his stance of not entering into any negotiations with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ahead of the coming 17th state election. He said as far as Umno was concerned, many GRS leaders could not be trusted and had breached signed agreements. Advertisement Asked about GRS' direction for the polls, Bung said if the coalition has decided, it should just go ahead and say so without further twists and turns. 'It's not that difficult. I have said many times, I do not trust and have no confidence in GRS,' he said, adding that leaders who jump from one party to another are traitors who only think for themselves, and would eventually betray the people. 'So I do not care about this GRS,' said Bung. Over the weekend, there was a growing push from grassroots supporters in Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah Star for the ruling coalition to go into the polls on its own. With the Sabah State Legislative Assembly due to be dissolved by Nov 11, political parties have been locked in discussions over possible electoral pacts. The situation remains fluid amid local political rivalries and a groundswell of support for Sabah to regain its autonomous rights through local parties. GRS is in a coalition with Sabah Pakatan Harapan in the State Government, while Barisan Nasional remains in the opposition in Sabah. Sabah Barisan and Sabah Pakatan are discussing an electoral pact, while Hajiji is keen to work with Sabah Pakatan, without Barisan. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah polls: GRS still letting a national coalition call the shots, says Bersatu
KOTA KINABALU: Bersatu has accused Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) of drumming up empty war cries for local-based parties to govern the state, as it still needs approval from a national coalition. Sabah Bersatu chairman Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee ( pic ) said at a recent party function in Beaufort, it was clear that whatever GRS intends to do still needs the endorsement of its federal unity government partner, Pakatan Harapan. ALSO READ: Sabah polls: GRS should just say if it's going solo, says Bung "They are shouting 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga' (Our House, We Take Care of it), but they can't even decide on going solo," said Kiandee, who is Beluran MP and also national Bersatu vice president. Kiandee was referring to the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah STAR convention last weekend, where its grassroots urged the GRS leadership to contest the coming state election on its own. "You have grassroots shouting 'go solo', but you need a decision from a national party. "How are you going to resolve Malaysia Agreement 1963 issues and other matters if you can't even make a stand for yourselves?" he asked. ALSO READ: PBS, Sabah STAR grassroots call for GRS to go solo in upcoming Sabah polls GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has said that the leaders of the eight-party GRS will discuss the question of going solo or teaming up with a national coalition when the time is right. Sabah Bersatu is expected to contest as well, but has yet to indicate how many seats it is eyeing.
