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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Be realistic, Sabah Umno not the force it once was, Bung told
Lee Kuok Tiung of U niversiti Malaysia Sabah said Warisan poses a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Bung Moktar Radin needs to accept the reality that Sabah Umno is no longer the force it used to be in the East Malaysian state, says a political analyst. Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Lee Kuok Tiung said while Umno used to dominate Sabah, the state's political landscape was vastly different then, with fewer local parties in contention. He pointed out that several parties have emerged in Sabah after multiple leaders broke away from Umno, namely Shafie Apdal's Warisan, Hajiji Noor's Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and even Bersatu's Sabah chapter, led by former Umno man Ronald Kiandee. 'There was no Warisan, GRS or even Sabah Bersatu in the past, and some of Sabah Umno's other past leaders are with different parties today. 'The political landscape and political set-up at that time was very different from the current scenario. So, wouldn't it be fair to say that Sabah Umno is not as it was before?' he told FMT. Lee also said Warisan, which intends to go solo in the upcoming state election, posed a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. 'Warisan still carries a strong local branding compared with Umno, which carries 'federal baggage'. Warisan also appeals across the races more effectively than Umno. 'Although GRS currently holds the administrative power, any erosion of support (by way of multi-cornered contests), especially in mixed or urban seats, could benefit Warisan,' he said. While Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan have agreed to an alliance for the state election, talks are ongoing to rope GRS into the pact. Nonetheless, Sabah BN and GRS leaders have continued to trade barbs. On Wednesday, Bung said leaders of Sabah-based parties have failed to unite Sabahans despite constantly pushing sentiments that they were local parties. The Sabah Umno chief said he appreciated the 'local struggle' spirit, but the narrative that only local parties could defend Sabah was a broken record, specifically training his guns on GRS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan. Bung said only national coalitions like BN could bring major change, ensure long-term stability and defending Sabah's right through federal channels. Lee warned Bung that undermining local party sentiments risked alienating voters, especially with more and more of them seeing local representation in the state assembly as crucial. 'Maybe he should slow down or lie low a little because what goes around comes around. Wouldn't it be a laughing stock if, in the 17th state election, Sabah Umno suddenly has to work with a local party? 'Some leaders need to move beyond the belief that they alone hold all the answers, and refrain from launching personal attacks against those with differing views. It's time they set aside their arrogance.' Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara agreed that it would be unwise to play down local party sentiments, which he noted was 'very, very high', though he believed Umno was still a force to be reckoned with in Sabah. Azmi said Umno's awareness of local party sentiments was evidenced by its federal leadership pushing the narrative that Sabah Umno had autonomy to make decisions, even on electoral pacts. However, he said, the federal BN leadership was making the final calls to unite the warring factions within Sabah Umno aligned with Bung, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak. Azmi also argued that BN and PH had the upper hand over local parties at the polls because of their access to federal power and resources.
Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Christina Liew ‘in the dark' about shifting alliances in Sabah
Christina Liew, former head of Sabah Pakatan Harapan, says she's looking forward to seeing how things unfold in Sabah politics. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Former Sabah Pakatan Harapan chief Christina Liew says she is in the dark about political developments in the state, describing herself as just an observer of the situation for now. 'I seriously don't know what's going on,' said Liew, when asked about shifting political alliances after Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan announced an alliance for the coming state elections. Ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah has since threatened to go solo in the state polls. 'I'm looking forward to seeing how things unfold. Of course, there are new issues every day. Personally, I'm just observing for now,' The Borneo Post quoted her as saying. 'From the news I've read so far, the chief minister (Hajiji Noor) said (GRS's electoral) partnership will only be announced after the state assembly is dissolved,' said Liew, a state minister and assembly member for Api-Api who used to head Sabah PKR. Liew said Sabah PH will focus on fulfilling its duties as a member of the state government 'regardless of what happens and whatever changes may or may not come'. Yesterday, the unity government coalition secretariat said seat talks and possible negotiations with other parties would be handled by the PH and BN leadership in Sabah, but the final decision would be made by the national leadership. Hajiji later said GRS would go solo in the state election if PH and BN's decision to cooperate for the polls was final. He said local parties should lead the state government as they better understood the realities, cultures and needs of Sabahans. However, Sabah PH leaders appear keen on maintaining its alliance with GRS while working with Sabah BN, saying the existing political stability at the federal and state levels should be maintained and further strengthened.
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.
